robin gold – Aussie Reviews

Stories for 6 Year Olds, edited by Linsay Knight

Kids love stories that are silly, accessible and quick to read – and Stories for Six Year Olds addresses all of these criteria, with eleven stories in the one volume, targeted for solo reading (or read-aloud with an adult) by readers of around six years of age.

Some of the stories appear here for the first time, with others being brought back to life for a new generation of readers. Parker=Hamilton, for example, was written by Robin Klein in 1984 whilst The Stuck-Tight Tooth is new from Dianne Bates. Other authors include Sophie Masson and Victor Kelleher. Illustrations, in black and white, are by Tom Jellett.

The stories can be read individually or read cover to cover and will stand repeated readings, either aloud or individually.

Stories for Six Year Olds, edited by Linsay knight, illustrated by Tom Jellett
Random Hosue
2012
ISBN 9781742756646

Available from good bookstores or online.

The Wand and the Sword, by Mike Zarb & Robin Gold

Sweet shmegeggy!’ exclaimed Burnie. ‘It’s the Redwitch!
The Redwitch snatched the wand from its display case. ‘Old York is mine…ALL MINE!’ She kissed the wand with a loud SMACK.
‘Yech!’ grumbled the wand. ‘Take a breath mint, will ya?’

Belmont and Burnie face danger once again as they head off on an exciting quest to find Excalibur and save Old York from the Redwitch, who is up to her usual mischief.

In this, the second story featuring Belmont, the small boy who has unexpectedly become the champion of Old York, and Burnie, his friendly dragon sidekick, the fast paced action and humour continue.

The text works together with the colour illustrations, combining to give the feel of an episodic cartoon in a format likely to appeal to reluctant readers and to children making the transition from picture books to first novels.

Loads of fun.

Belmont and the Dragon: The Wand and the Sword, by Mike Zarb and Robin Gold
Random House, 2009

Belmont and the Dragon – The Forest of Doom and Gloom

Long, long ago, in the mad-cap medieval metropolis of Old York…there lived an orphan boy named Belmont. He was small of stature but in his heart he had a very big dream.

Belmont dreams of one day becoming a knight. When the other orphans scoff at the suggestion, Belmont sets off on an adventure, determined to prove he can be brave and heroic. Along the way he meets a SNAD (Sensitive New Age Dragon) named Burnie and together they must rescue the beautiful princess Libby from the Putrid Pink Pixies and their mistress, the Redwitch.

Belmont and the Dragon: The Forest of Doom and Gloom is the first in a gorgeous new junior fiction series. The 48 page full-colour format, mixes adventure and humour, with a fast-moving, slightly silly story and cartoon-style illustrations for a combination which emerging readers will adore. The author-illustrator team have both worked in animation, and the book has the feel of a cartoon episode, with the illustrations having depth and the twists of the storyline offering both surprises and laughs. There’s nothing not to like here.

Belmont and the Dragon: The Forest of Doom and Gloom, by Mike Zarb & RobinGold
RandomHouse Australia, 2008

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