Tag: Tony Flowers

Samurai vs Ninja 2: The Race for the Shogun’s Treasure by Nick Falk and Tony Flowers

On Honshu, the largest island in Japan, is a city called Tokyo. Three hundred years ago, Tokyo was called Edo. The streets were dark and dusty. The houses were made of paper.

It was a city of mystery and magic.

It was midnight. Somewhere in the darkness a pig snuffled. Nearby an old man picked his nose. But nobody noticed. There were not lightbulbs in Edo Period Japan.

A thief, dressed in black, raced through the city streets.

On Honshu, the largest island in Japan, is a city called Tokyo. Three hundred years ago, Tokyo was called Edo. The streets were dark and dusty. The houses were made of paper.

It was a city of mystery and magic.

It was midnight. Somewhere in the darkness a pig snuffled. Nearby an old man picked his nose. But nobody noticed. There were not lightbulbs in Edo Period Japan.

A thief, dressed in black, raced through the city streets.

The Great Bear has been stolen from Edo Castle and the shogun has promised a wonderful reward for the return of his most prized possession. Whoever brings back the Bear will become ruler of the Hidden Valley. Kingyo-Sama, head of the samurai, and Buta-Sama, head of the ninja have woken to a normal day which includes flying ninja poo and other treats. But before their battle can escalate, both are called to Edo Castle to participate in the quest to find the Great Bear. How hard can it be? The brothers are both sure of victory and equally sure that victory will allow them to finally outwit and oust the other. There are black and white illustrations on every opening and text sometimes wanders around, up and down the page.

The Race for the Shogun’s Treasure is the second adventure in this silly and ridiculous new series from Random House. Kingyo-Sama and Buta-Sama are very different characters. And they are brothers. Their rivalry is as fierce as it is relentless. And it’s hilarious. The insults are inventive, the action fast-paced and outrageous. Newly independent readers will revel in the silliness.

Samurai vs Ninja 2: The Race for the Shogun’s Treasure , Nick Falk & Tony Flowers
Random House Australia 2015
ISBN: 9780857986368

review by Claire Saxby, Children’s author and bookseller

www.clairesaxby.com

Samurai vs Ninja 1: The Battle for the Golden Egg by Nick Falk & Tony Flowers

In the deepest depths of Japan, high in the hills of Hokkaido, were two mighty mountains. The Mountain of the Tiger’s Claw was steep and stony, covered in rocky ridges and crumbling cliffs.

The Mountain of the Dragon’s Tooth was tall and twisty, filled with tangled trees and craggy caves.

In the Edo Period, when the shogun ruled Japan, these were the mountains of Bushido, home of the ninja and the samurai.

In the deepest depths of Japan, high in the hills of Hokkaido, were two mighty mountains. The Mountain of the Tiger’s Claw was steep and stony, covered in rocky ridges and crumbling cliffs.

The Mountain of the Dragon’s Tooth was tall and twisty, filled with tangled trees and craggy caves.

In the Edo Period, when the shogun ruled Japan, these were the mountains of Bushido, home of the ninja and the samurai.

The serious samurai and the scheming ninja both claim to be the best. They cannot agree so a contest is held, a contest to win the ultimate prize: the Golden Egg. There are rules to be followed, but both sides are determined to win, and rules are not going to get in their way. What follows is a wild battle full of hot custard and exploding puffer fish. And insults and outrage. Black and white illustrations appear on every opening. Added extras include a glossary, samurai battle dress and more.

Never was there such a battle between brothers! ‘Samurai vs Ninja’ offers a feast of ridiculousness, at full volume, as they battle for the Golden Egg. The brothers may be opposites but they both are sure they are superior. The neat and tidy samurai cannot believe the scruffy, silly ninja are a real threat, but the latter make up for their scruffiness with excessive cunning. Newly independent readers will revel in this silliness.

Samurai vs Ninja: The Battle for the Golden Egg by Nick Falk & Tony Flowers Random House 2015 ISBN: 9780857986054

review by Claire Saxby, Children’s author and bookseller

www.clairesaxby.com

Saurus Street 5: A Plesiosaur Broke My Bathtub by Nick Falk ill Tony Flowers

There are three reasons I’m scared of Granny and Grandad’s outdoor loo.

The door might close and leave me locked inside forever.
Every creepy-crawly in the whole wide world lives in there.
(and the big reason) The toilet has no bottom.

There are three reasons I’m scared of Granny and Grandad’s outdoor loo.

  1. The door might close and leave me locked inside forever.
  2. Every creepy-crawly in the whole wide world lives in there.
  3. (and the big reason) The toilet has no bottom.

It’s not like a normal toilet, with water and a U-tube. Granny and Grandad’s toilet is just a hole over a big black pit. Anything could be hiding down there. Like a witch or a werewolf. Or a hideous green water monster with gigantic teeth.

I don’t consider myself a scaredy-cat. I’m nine years old and I wear size 7 shoes. And that’s big for my age. But only a fool wouldn’t be scared of that toilet.

Thomas loves everything about his once-a-month weekends at his grandparents’ house. Everything, that is, except their scary outside loo. Anything could live in that bottomless pit. But even Thomas hadn’t fully realised just what was down there. But he has a chance to find out, when he falls in. He encounters a plesiosaur, a man wearing a skirt, some avaricious neighbours and a fellow-adventurer, Ellie. When everything begins to spin, Thomas and Ellie need all their smarts to keep Saurus Street safe. There are black and white illustrations on every opening. Potentially challenging words are in a range of different fonts and styled to help support their meaning.

‘Saurus Street 5: A Plesiosaur Broke My Bathtub’ is a whirlwind of an adventure, built around that familiar scary place – the outside loo. Spiders and bugs and webs are one thing, but it’s the unknown at the bottom of that hole that generates the most fear. Nick Falk takes the reader to the bottom and beyond, in an explosive tidal wave of an adventure, all the way to the sea. Along the way, people behave badly, and it’s up to the intrepid young main characters to save the day. And they do, using all the ingenuity and imagination that they are capable of. Saurus Street survives to adventure on. Ideal for independent readers in transition to full-length novels. A rip-roaring read.

 

Saurus Street 5: A Plesiosaur Broke My Bathtub, Nick Falk ill Tony Flowers Random House Australia 2013 ISBN: 9780857981820

review by Claire Saxby, Children’s author and bookseller

www.clairesaxby.com

Available from good bookstores or online.

Saurus Street 6: A Diplodocus Trampled My Teepee by Nick Falk ill Tony Flowers

‘Wake up, Toby. It’s time to inspect our treasure.’

I open my eyes and sit up. Jack’s already awake. His dad and his scary sister, Saffi, are asleep in their sleeping bags. The coast is clear.

Jack unzips his stegosaurus schoolbag. That’s where we put all the treasures we found on the beach today.

He empties it onto the floor of the tepee. That’s what we’re camping in. A great big family-sized tepee. Jack’s dad made it out of branches, ropes and plastic sheets.

This is the first time I’ve ever been camping.

‘Wake up, Toby. It’s time to inspect our treasure.’

I open my eyes and sit up. Jack’s already awake. His dad and his scary sister, Saffi, are asleep in their sleeping bags. The coast is clear.

Jack unzips his stegosaurus schoolbag. That’s where we put all the treasures we found on the beach today.

He empties it onto the floor of the tepee. That’s what we’re camping in. A great big family-sized tepee. Jack’s dad made it out of branches, ropes and plastic sheets.

This is the first time I’ve ever been camping.

Jack and his friend Toby had no idea just what treasures they had collected on the beach during their beach camping trip. But by the time they do realise the importance of one of their finds, they are on the path to the biggest dinosaur adventure of all. Suddenly their little corner Saurus seems to be host to all manner of supposedly extinct creatures, from the smallest ammonite to the most dangerous dinosaur to the VERY big diplodocus. It seems the boys and Saffi have activated the curse of the legendary dinosaur pirate, Captain Saurus. Now the race is on, to solve the clues left behind by Captain Saurus and lift the curse before it is too late. Black and white illustrations appear on most openings and potentially challenging words are presented in different, larger fonts.

The Saurus Street series offers wild adventures in not-quite-your-average suburb. There are always dinosaurs. Small ones, big ones, and just about every size in between. And Saurus Street and surrounds is just not designed for these visitors. Adults are present in each adventure but manage to stay well in the background, allowing the main characters the freedom to solve their (considerable) challenges. In ‘Saurus Street 6’ Jack’s scary older sister, Saffi, assists in between bouts of ‘teenage-ness’ but it is Jack and Toby who are the heroes. A Diplodocus Trampled My Teepee offers a rip-tearing, heart-thumping read for young independent readers.

 

Saurus Street 6:A Diplodocus Trampled My Teepee , Nick Falk ill Tony Flowers Random House Australia 2013 ISBN: 9780857981844

review by Claire Saxby, Children’s author and bookseller

www.clairesaxby.com

Availabil from good bookstores or online .