Maxx Rumble Cricket Series, by Michael Wagner

“How is THAT, umpire?” screamed Happy. “That’s gotta be out! Oh, come on, ump! Be reasonable. He was SOOOOO out! What are you doing to me, ump?”
“You haven’t even bowled the ball yet, Happy,” said umpire Freddy.

Maxx Rumble loves sport and he and his team mates have been training hard for the new cricket season. But Maxx’s team, the Stone Valley Saints are, well, saints compared to some of their opponents. It seems some people will stop at nothing to win a game of cricket.

In Rattled!, the captain of the Princely Pigdogs whinges constantly, then manages to completely rattle Maxx when it’s his turn to bat. In Sledged , the star of the Sproilt Bats, Thelma Thatcher uses all her skills to put people off. In fact, in each of the eight books of the series, the opposition team uses every tactic available to outwit Maxx’s Saints.

Each book is a quick read, self-contained and full of laughs. The comic illustrations by Terry Denton on every page add to the fun. Read alone or as a series, these are plenty of fun for sports-mad youngsters.

Sledged!, Rattled! , Cheated!, Bugged!, Hammered!, Whacked!, Spooked!, and Tricked! all by Michael Wagner, illustrated by Terry Denton
Black Dog Books, 2004 and 2005

Manners! by Karen Tayleur

My mum always calls them the ‘unwritten laws’ – the unwritten laws of good manners. You could probably break these laws and never end up in jail. But if you do break them you might find yourself without any friends.

First, David Mortimore Baxter learnt the importance of always telling the truth. Then he learnt about using excuses to get out of, and keep out of, trouble. Now, it seems, he’s intent on spreading the message about manners.

In Manners! David (the first person creation of author Karen Tayleur) explains good manners in all sorts of situations – from mealtime to movie time, both at home and away.

As with earlier titles in this series, this one is full of humour and will appeal to readers in a wide age group – from 7 to 12 and possibly beyond. David Baxter is a quirky, blunt character who tells it as he sees it with hilarious impact.

Fun.

Manners! Staying Out Of Trouble With David Mortimore Baxter
Black Dog Books, 2005

Promises! by Karen Tayleur

When our class captain announced he was leaving, you couldn’t wipe the smile off Rose Thornton’s face.
“Things are sure going to change around here when I’m class captain,” she threatened.

When no one else will run against Rose Thornton in the election of a new class captain, David finds himself up for election. But Rose is desperate to win and is using every trick she can think of. If David wants to beat her he’s going to have to make some promises, even ones that he probably won’t keep.

Promises! is the sixth title in the David Mortimore Baxter series, and, like its predecessors, is sure to appeal to readers aged 8 to 12. David’s first person narration is honest (even about lying) and funny and the stories are ones which kids will relate to, even while exaggerated for humorous effect.

Whilst each book in the series builds on the others, they are also self contained and so accessible to readers who haven’t read the whole series.

Lots of fun.

Promises! Vote 1 David Mortimore Baxter, by Karen Tayleur
Black Dog Books, 2005

Secrets! by Karen Tayleur

Okay, I didn’t ask Smashing Smorgan to tell me his secret. But he did anyway. Then he blabbed to the whole world that I could keep a secret. Suddenly everyone wanted to offload their secrets on me. But there was one secret that might just blow my family apart. And time was running out…

When Smashing Smorgan tells the world that David Baxter is good at keeping secrets, it seems they all believe it. Soon, David is being asked to keep more secrets than he can handle. Everyone from his next door neighbour to the school bully is offloading their secrets on David – and if he blabs, he’ll be in big trouble.

With his teacher on stress leave and the town fair coming up, David is struggling to keep his mouth shut – but when he finds out a secret so big it could blow his family apart, he doesn’t know what to do. When is it okay to share a secret?

Secrets! is the fifth offering in the David Mortimore Baxter series from author Karen Tayleur and Black Dog Books. With plenty of laughs and a sassy first person narrator, kids aged 8 to 12 will love this title, and the rest of the series.

Secrets! The Secret Life of David Mortimore Baxter, by Karen Tayleur
Black Dog Books, 2005

The Truth! by Karen Tayleur

So here’s the thing. I didn’t want to go to Rose Thornton’s house for dinner so I pretended to be sick. But I wasn’t sick. And Mum found out. Now Mum’s so mad with me that she’s thought up the worst punishment ever. One more lie and Boris is going to the pet shelter. So that’s it. I’m turning over a new leaf.

David’s lies have landed him in trouble plenty of times – but never as much trouble as he’s in now. When his Mum discovers his latest lies, she threatens to take his dog away the next time he lies. David has to change his lying ways – quickly.

Soon, however, David realises that telling the truth can land him in as much trouble as telling lies. Sometimes, it seems, people don’t want to hear the truth.

The Truth! is the funny third instalment in the David Mortimore Baxter series. As with the first two books – Liar! and Excuses!, David finds himself in and out of trouble as he navigates the art of story telling and the world of friendships and family. Kids will love this very real character.

The Truth! David Mortimore Baxter Comes Clean, by Karen Tayleur
Black Dog Books, 2004

Excuses! by Karen Tayleur

My mum has this book called ‘1001 Handy Hints for Homemakers’. She got it from Dad for her last birthday. She didn’t seem too happy when he gave it to her, but it got me thinking. Kids could do with a handy hints book. What we need is a book of ‘1001 Exciting Excuses for Kids’

When David Mortimore Baxter can’t find a book of excuses for kids in his local library, he decides to write his own. When it’s finished, he realises he doesn’t have 1001 excuses, so he has to change the title. But the book is full of excuses, which David assures us are bound to come in handy.

Excuses! is the second book told through the eyes of the cheeky David Baxter. With plenty of humour and silly stories, David shares his best excuses for everything from not making your bed, to not doing your homework. He also fits in some excuses that adults use, like pretending not to see someone they’ve been trying to avoid.

Suitable for readers aged 8-12, this is a fun offering and, whilst it is a sequel to Liar! stands comfortably on its own.

Excuses! Survive and Succeed With David Mortimore Baxter, by Karen Tayleur
Black Dog Books, 2004

Liar! by Karen Tayleur

You’ve probably guessed by now that I’ve bent the truth before. I have. But it’s not like I get up in the morning and think, ‘Let’s churn out a few today!’ Things just happen to me. It’s not my fault. Like that time I invented a whole new breed of dog just before the Hampton Animal Show.

David Mortimer Baxter has a terrible problem. He can’t stop lying. And now his lying has landed him in trouble. He’s told his class that famous wrestler Smashing Smorgan is coming to his house for Sunday lunch. When the whole class all turn up at his house on Sunday to see the wrestler, David has to think fast.

Liar! (subtitled The True Story of David Mortimore Baxter) is a funny tale about the lies kids tell and the trouble they can find themselves in. Told in first person through the eyes of the likeable rogue, David, the story is fast moving and funny. Whilst the story is chronological, each chapter has a self-contained smaller plot, focussing on a different lie that David tells and its consequence.

Suitable for children aged 8 to 12, this is sure to be a hit, especially with boys in this age group.

Liar! The True Story of David Mortimore Baxter, by Karen Tayleur
Black Dog Books, 2004

Little Lunch Three, by Danny Katz

When Mrs Gonsha bakes a pavlova for her class, to celebrate Max and Elsa’s birthday, the children are excited – until they sneak a taste of the pavlova while Mrs Gonsha isn’t looking. It tastes terrible – and when Mrs Gonsha comes back, she’ll expect them to eat it.

Under the Tree Near the oval is one of three funny stories in Little Lunch Three The second story, The Lost and Found Box tells the story of what Attcius Busby finds in the lost and found box when he loses his glasses, whilst the final story, The Bubblers recounts a joke-telling session at the water bubblers.

Each story takes place at recess (or little lunch) time and so is fast-moving, slice-of-life stuff, with plenty of kid-level laughs. The text is easy to read, with comic-style drawings on every page, both to support the text and to provide extra humour.

Little Lunch Three, by Danny Katz, illustrated by Mitch Vane
Black Dog Books, 2003

Fire in the Belly, by Carole Wilkinson

We shall not have peace until the prejudices which now separate the different races shall have been outlived. To attain this end, what better means than to bring the youth of all countries periodically together for amicable trials of muscular strength and agility?

When Frenchman Baron de Coubertin proposed and founded the modern Olympic Games, it is unlikely even he could have foreseen just how big and how important to the world this event would become.

Since the first games, held in Athens in 1896 and featuring 241 Athletes from just 14 countries competing in 9 sports, the Olympic movement has grown so that in recent games around ten thousand athletes from 200 countries have competed in 28 different sports. More importantly, the games have also, as the Baron hoped, come to be about much more than sport and winning.

In Fire in the Belly award-winning children’s author Carole Wilkinson traces the history of the Olympic movement from its roots in ancient Greece, to its reinvention by the Baron, right through until modern times. Each Games from Athens (1896) till Sydney (2000) is profiled, with information about the number of countries, athletes and sports, a general overview of the event, interesting highlights and first person recounts of key events. There are plenty of interesting facts and quirky tales that will fascinate young sports fans.

Fire in the Belly is a fascinating read, from an author who makes nonfiction just as readable as fiction for primary aged readers.

Fire in the Belly, by Carole Wilkinson
Black Dog Books, 2004

Dragonkeeper, by Carole Wilkinson

In ancient China a slave girl who is told she is not worthy of a name witnesses the brutal carving up and pickling of a dragon. When the remaining dragon is threatened, the girl takes a chance and rescues him, fleeing her brutal master.

The pair are free, but a long way from safety. They must travel across China, evading a ruthless dragon hunter and protecting a mystic stone, the dragon stone.

This is a story of incredible beauty, with a delightful mix of fantasy and history. The dragon and his young keeper are created with such intricacy that it is hard to believe author Carole Wilkinson was not a first-hand witness to the events she describes.

Wilkinson’s earlier books were good – but this one, her longest yet, is simply brilliant.

Dragonkeeper, by Carole Wilkinson
Black Dog Books, 2003