Louis Beside Himself by Anna Fienberg

‘Come on, Louis, didn’t you hear me?’ yelled Dad from the living room.

I sighed. Dad was singing The Undertaker’s entrance theme.

‘Remember to tighten your abs, and spring up with your knees!’

‘But I’m nearly up to the last page. The best part.’

Dad was standing on the wrestling mat, cushions carefully strewn around to break our falls. ‘Get ready for The Tombstone!’ he called. He was working on his shoulder deltoids. His eyes were wide and enthusiastic, instead of dead, which was how you’re supposed to look for The Tombstone.

‘Come on, Louis, didn’t you hear me?’ yelled Dad from the living room.

I sighed. Dad was singing The Undertaker’s entrance theme.

‘Remember to tighten your abs, and spring up with your knees!’

‘But I’m nearly up to the last page. The best part.’

Dad was standing on the wrestling mat, cushions carefully strewn around to break our falls. ‘Get ready for The Tombstone!’ he called. He was working on his shoulder deltoids. His eyes were wide and enthusiastic, instead of dead, which was how you’re supposed to look for The Tombstone.

Louis and his dad get along fine. Fine that is, except with Dad’s obsession with wrestling. And even that would be fine, if he didn’t insist that Louis master all the moves. And really, Louis would rather read. His friends think Dad is fabulous, but Louis can’t imagine ever needing the skills that Dad insists he develop. Words are Louis’s thing and he peppers his conversation with them. This summer, however, Louis is challenged by broken mirrors, runaways of all ages, his father’s new romance, and oversized burglars. Surviving intact will need all the skills Louis can muster.

Louis is not your stereotypical hero. He would be the first to admit it. But heroes come in all sizes, and appear at the right time. Louis Beside Himself includes all Anna Fienberg’s trademark humour and championing of the apparent underdog. She suggests that there is a hero in all of us and that being true to yourself is the first step in being able to be true to others. The relationship between Louis and his father is a lovely one and this adventure allows it to strengthen. Friendships and family relationships are all drawn realistically, allowing for individual differences and strengths. But before all that, Louis Beside Himself is a humourous adventure through a familiar landscape. Recommended for confident readers from mid-primary on.

Louis Beside Himself

Louis Beside Himself, Anna Fienberg
Allen & Unwin 2012
ISBN: 9781742379944

review by Claire Saxby, Children’s Author

www.clairesaxby.com

Available in good bookstores or online.

Madeline the Mermaid, by Anna Fienberg & Ann James

Madeline was a mermaid. She had a silvery tail like a fish, and shells shone in her wild yellow hair. Every day she swam and dived and ducked through the waves, and at night she headed home to the coral reefs of the sea.
Madeline lived in a conch shell with her merdog called Byron and her mercat called Bella.

Madeline lives where all mermaids should, under the sea. She’s happy and healthy and bright, despite rumours and legends that paint mermaids as having ‘wild, wicked ways’. There’s only one thing not-perfect in her life, and it’s a big thing. Literally. There’s a Kraken living on the other side of the world. He’s scared of the dark. There are stories told about him too, and although he says the stories are rubbish, no one is game to come close enough to hear him. Now he wants Madeline’s light and he’s coming to get it. There are four linked mini-adventures in Madeline the Mermaid. Scattered throughout are both colour and black-and-white illustrations, in Ann James’ trademark gentle loose lines and watercolours.

What a life to be leading! Living under the sea and having your own merdog and mercat. Madeline seems to have it made, but there are challenges in her world. First there’s the Kraken, then there are puffer fish, harpies and sea witches. Madeline finds ways to calm the rocky waters of the undersea with gentle humour and a tiny touch of magic. This collection of stories is as refreshing as being at the beach on a hot summer day, when the cool change arrives. Perfect as a read-to, particularly with each ‘chapter’ being complete in itself. Recommended to for independent readers and lovers of mermaids and the sea.

Madeline the Mermaid

Madeline the Mermaid, Anna Fienberg Ann James
Allen&Unwin 2010
ISBN: 9781742372280

Reviewed by Claire Saxby, Children’s Author www.clairesaxby.com

This book can be purchased in good bookstores or online at Fishpond.

The Hottest Boy Who Ever Lived, by Anna Fienberg

Hector was sad.
He was unbearably, bone-achingly sad.
‘No offence, Minton,’ he said to his salamander, ‘but I would give up my mangoes, my treehouse, even my view of the volcano, just for someone to talk to.’

Hector is the hottest boy who ever lived, which makes it hard for him to be around other people. Only Minton, the fire salamander, can get close to him. But whilst Hector is glad to have Minton, he is still lonely.

When a storm sweeps Hector and Minton away to cold snowy lands, they meet Gilda, a Viking adventurer, who likes Hector’s warmth. Though it takes the other Vikings some time to get know Minton, soon his life has changed for the better.

First published in picture book format, The Hottest Boy Who Ever Lived is a gorgeous chapter book showing the strength and the magic of friendship. Illustrated in colour, this is an ideal text for beginning readers, but independent readers will also enjoy the absurdity and gentle humour of the concept.

From the creative team behind the Tashi series, The Hottest Boy Who Ever Lived is a heart-warming tale.

The Hottest Boy Who Ever Lived: A Minton Adventure

The Hottest Boy Who Ever Lived , by Anna Fienberg & Kim Gamble
Allen & Unwin, 2009

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

Tashi and the Phoenix, by Anna Fienberg, Barbara Fienberg and Kim Gamble

As I watched, the ash beneath the logs began to stir. Flashes of colour glowed through the grey: red, gold, purple, emerald, like jewels…Something was moving in the embers. A bird with a tail like sunrise. I watched it step right out of the embers and preen itself.

When Tashi’s Uncle lands the family in trouble, Tashi is furious. But when he meets a phoenix, he thinks it might be the answer to the family’s problems. But will the phoenix land the family in more trouble when it escapes?

Tashi and the phoenix is the fifteenth title in the Tashi series, aimed at primary school aged readers. As with its predecessors, it contains a story within a story as the happenings in the boy Jack’s family inspire a story form Tashi about life in his village.

Tashi’s adventures this time around include an encounter with a phoenix and a mission to save a hoity princess from an unwelcome marriage. Tashi’s solutions are always clever and entertaining.

Young fans will enjoy this new pair of adventures as much as the previous ones – and they will also appeal to those who are new to the series.

Tashi and the Phoenix

Tashi and the Phoenix, by Anna Fienberg and Barabare Feinberg, illustrated by Kim Gamble
Allen & Unwin, 2008

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

Number 8, by Anna Fienberg

I think the best number in the whole universe is eight. My friend, Asim, likes numbers about as much as me, but he likes them all – odd or even. Esmerelda, though, who lives across the street, isn’t so fond of numbers and she hates maths. Singing’s more her thing. She’s really good, too. Nearly as good as my mum. Mum’s a professional singer. Or was, until we had to move.

Jackson isn’t so sure about his new house. Mum has brought him to live in the suburbs, away from their life in the inner-city, to hide out from criminals who want to keep her quiet. But Jackson liked their old life and isn’t sure he can be happy here. When he meets Esmerelda, the girl from across the street, though, he realises it isn’t all bad. Then there’s his friend Asim, who shares his passion for numbers, and for the possums who live in Jackson’s yard.

But the criminals who Jackson’s mum has upset, aren’t finished with her. There’s a mustang driving up and down the street at all sorts of hours, and the phone rings constantly; mystery callers who don’t identify themselves. Jackson and his new friends could be in danger.

Number 8 is an action-packed offering from award-winning author Anna Fienberg. As well as the danger-filled plot, there is plenty of humour, and themes of friendship, family and teen relationships, as well as those of difference and of immigration. This is a lot for one book to explore, but Fienberg does it well, leaving the reader satisfied.

Suitable for readers aged twelve and over.

Number 8, by Anna Fienberg
Penguin, 2006

There Once Was a Boy Called Tashi, by Anna Fienberg and Barbara Fienberg

There once was a boy called Tashi, who had a way with witches and warlords and guessed the secrets of ghosts … Tashi wasn’t afraid of the giant on the mountain or the wicked Baron by the river, but never, ever, had he dreamed of an ogre such as Gloomin.

When Gloomin comes to the village people run and hide and the sky grows dark. The sad ogre takes up residence in the village and the days which follow are bleak.

Finally, when the ogre starts eyeing people for his cooking pot, Tashi realises he has to do something. He sets about finding out what is making Gloomin so sad, and what can be done to fix the problem.

Tashi has previously appeared in ten chapter book titles, but now the talented team of Anna Fienberg and Kim Gamble have combined to bring him to life in full colour in his first full colour picture book. Tashi fans, young and old, will love the opportuntiy to see this loveable character and his friends brought to life in colour, and those who have not previously been introduced to Tashi will be left clamouring for more.

The Tashi stories arose from a collaboration between Fienberg and her mother, Barbara Fienberg. The stories quickly became popular with children and also with parents and teachers. The arrival of Tashi in full colour is special – bringing him to life and doing full justice to Gamble’s illustrative talents.

There Once Was a Boy called Tashi is pure delight and would make an excellent gift.

There Once Was a Boy Called Tashi, by Anna Fienberg and Barbara Fienberg, illustrated by Kim Gamble
Allen & Unwin, 2004

Tashi and the Haunted House, by Anna Fienberg and Barbara Fienberg

There’s a light in the window of the haunted house, and Tashi is going in.

Tashi is back and has two new adventures to share in Tashi and the Haunted House. In the first story Tashi finds Ning Jing hiding in the haunted house, scared of her nasty cousin Bu Li. Tashi comes up with a spooky plan to scare him right out of the forest. In the second, Tashi is confronted by two mysterious creatures in the village square. Tashi knows the demons are back and they want to beat him. Can he outwit them, and save the village school?

Tashi is an appealing character from a magical far away land, the creation of Anna Fienberg and her mother Barbara. This is the ninth book in the Tashi series, and is sure to convince those who are not yet Tashi fans to read the whole set.

Brought to life in the illustrations of Kim Gamble, Tashi shares his adventures with his friend Jack and the whole family.

Anna Fienberg is the author of many popular and award-winning books for children, including Joseph, shortlisted for the 2002 Children’s Book Council Awards, and Horrendo’s Curse. Her mother, Barbara Fienberg, is the chief plot-deviser for the Tashi books.

Kim Gamble is an award-winning artist. He has illustrated many of Fienberg’s books as well as those of other authors, including Margaret Wild.

Tashi and the Haunted House is sure to delight youngsters aged 6 to 10.

Tashi and the Haunted House, by Anna Fienberg and Barbara Fienberg, illustrated by Kim Gamble
Allen & Unwin, 2002