Author: Alphabet Soup

This post was added by Rebecca Newman. Rebecca is a children's writer and poet, and the editor of the Australian children's literary blog, Alphabet Soup. For more about Rebecca visit: rebeccanewman.net.au.
Posted in Book reviews by kids, Glenridge Elementary School

Book review: Fox and Rabbit Celebrate

Posted on by Alphabet Soup
Image shows the cover of a children's graphic novel: Fox and Rabbit Celebrate by Beth Ferry and Gergely Dudás. The cover illustration shows a giant cake with pink icing and a fox in a blue pointy party hat and two balloons, a tiny sparrow in a purple pointy party hat and a rabbit in a yellow pointy party hat and holding balloons. The sky is filled with confetti.

REVIEWED BY LUCCA, SECOND GRADE, MISSOURI, USA

Fox & Rabbit Celebrate by Beth Ferry and Gergely Dudás, Amulet Books ISBN 9781419751837

Lucca read the school’s copy of this book.

Do you like books with celebration? Then Fox & Rabbit Celebrate by Beth Ferry and illustrated by Gergely Dudás is the book for you because it’s fun.

In this graphic novel, Fox and Rabbit want to make the world’s biggest, yummiest pizza for Sparrow’s birthday. But they can’t cook it until Rabbit reveals a sizzling secret that there’s a dragon close by that can help.

One reason I like this book is because Fox and Rabbit are best friends even though they are different, like how Fox likes swimming and Rabbit doesn’t. Another reason I like this book is because it has extra side stories. For example “Wonder, Wish, and Wow” is about making a rock garden. A third reason I like this book is because I like the graphic novel’s way of telling a story. For example I like how they use dialogue.

I hope you get this book and read it right away. I recommend this book for kids ages three and over. I give this book 10 out of 10 stars.

Second grade students at Glenridge Elementary School (Missouri, USA) are guest reviewers at Alphabet Soup. Click here if you’d like to read more book reviews by Glenridge Elementary School. To send us YOUR book review, check out our submission guidelines. Happy reading!

Posted in Book reviews by kids, Glenridge Elementary School

Book review: Isadora Moon Goes to School

Posted on by Alphabet Soup
Image shows the cover of a children's book: Isadora Moon Goes to School by Harriet Muncaster. The cover illustration shows a black sky full of stars with a white full moon at the centre of the cover. Moving across the moon is a child with bat wings, a fairy wand, a yellow dress, black-and-white striped tights and black hair blowing behind her. She has fangs. Ahead of her is a pink rabbit.

REVIEWED BY ARIELLA, SECOND GRADE, MISSOURI, USA

Isadora Moon Goes to School by Harriet Muncaster, Random House Books for Young Readers, ISBN 9780399558238

Ariella reviewed her own copy of this book.

Have you ever read Isadora Moon Goes to School? I think you should read it because it is about a girl who is half fairy and half vampire. So when she goes to fairy school she can not wear black. But at vampire school she can’t whoosh when she is flying; she flaps. So she goes to another school …

Do you want a cool book? This is the best one for you. One reason I love this book is because being half fairy half vampire is awesome and having a living stuffed animal is great. Another reason I like this book is because Isadora can be a good friend. For example, because she is half fairy and half vampire she can be friends with both fairies and vampires. I also think you should read this book because it is funny because Isadora has 2 breakfasts and is so full.

I hope you can get this book right away. I hope you like it!

Second grade students at Glenridge Elementary School (Missouri, USA) are guest reviewers at Alphabet Soup. Click here if you’d like to read more book reviews by Glenridge Elementary School. To send us YOUR book review, check out our submission guidelines. Happy reading!

Posted in Book reviews by kids, Glenridge Elementary School

Book review: Tales from a Not-So-Fabulous Life

Posted on by Alphabet Soup
Image shows the cover of a children's book, Dork Diaries: Tales from a Not-So-Fabulous Life by Rachel Renée Russell. The cover image shows a comic-style sketch on what looks like a post-it note. A girl is reading on a school bench. Behind her two other girls are talking, sharing secrets.

REVIEWED BY ALMA, SECOND GRADE, MISSOURI, USA

Dork Diaries: Tales from a Not-So-Fabulous Life by Rachel Renée Russell, Simon & Schuster Children’s Publishing, ISBN 9781416980063

Alma reviewed the school’s copy of this book.

Do you like the Diary of a Wimpy Kid series? Well then, I think you should read Dork Diaries: Tales From a Not So Fabulous Life because it is funny.

This story is about a girl named Nikki who gets bullied by MacKenzie and her friend. They tried to change who she is. One reason I like this book is because it’s cool. In the story I like the part where they do a zombie dance. Another reason I like this book is because it’s funny. For example the tooth fairy gets trapped in Nikki’s pillow and Nikki throws the pillow in the washing machine. A third reason I like this book is because the words are even interesting. It looks like a real diary.

I hope you go get this book and read it right away. I recommend this for kids ages 4 to 7. I give this book 10 out of 10 stars.

Second grade students at Glenridge Elementary School (Missouri, USA) are guest reviewers at Alphabet Soup. Click here if you’d like to read more book reviews by Glenridge Elementary School. To send us YOUR book review, check out our submission guidelines. Happy reading!

Posted in Book reviews by Anwen, Book reviews by kids

Book review: Great White Shark

Posted on by Alphabet Soup
Great White Shark by Claire Saxby and Cindy Lane

REVIEWED BY ANWEN, 8, WA

Great White Shark by Claire Saxby, illustrated by Cindy Lane, Walker Books Australia, ISBN 9781760651848

The publisher provided a review copy of this book.

This book has a nice story that follows a shark’s day and shows facts about Great Whites. I learnt more about this species of shark from this book. Did you know that female Great Whites grow about as long as a giraffe is tall and may weigh more than a large car?

Great White Shark has amazingly good illustrations. They are so detailed and beautiful. It looks realistic because Cindy Lane used seawater, watercolours, pencil, found natural pigments, digital drawing and digital collage to make different textures. She’s done wonderful blending and she has used lots of colours in her art. It shows underwater scenes with other sea creatures and beautiful coral.

Overall, Great White Shark is a spectacular book and is suitable for all ages over four.

Check out Alphabet Soup’s interview with the illustrator, Cindy Lane.

This is Anwen’s second book review for Alphabet Soup. You can read her review of No! Never! here. If YOU would like to send us a book review, check out our submission guidelines. Happy reading!

Posted in Book reviews by Emily, Book reviews by kids

Book review: Julia and the Shark

Posted on by Alphabet Soup

REVIEWED BY EMILY, 9, WA

Image shows the cover of a children's novel: Julia and the Shark by Kiran Millwood Hargrave and Tom de Freston. The cover illustration shows a black and white whirlpool of birds and a shark and at the centre is child in a yellow coat with yellow hood and yellow shoes walking with arms outstretched.

Julia and the Shark by Kiran Millwood Hargrave and Tom de Freston, Hachette Children’s Books, ISBN 9781510107786

Emily reviewed her own copy of this book.

Julia and the Shark is about a girl called Julia, whose mum is a marine biologist. Julia and her mum and dad move to Shetland, Scotland for 6 months. They all get along really well, but things are about to change.

 True adventure begins when Julia’s mum gives her best shot to find an ancient shark. Julia finds Kin, they quickly become best friends. Can Julia help find the shark, bring back her best friend and find the mum and dad she knows? But this isn’t all …

“Did you know that turtles breath through their bottoms!” This was one of the many Marine facts that I enjoyed. While some parts were amusing other parts gave off waves of sorrow.

This book was like a journey through Julia’s heart, full of joy and anguish. I recommend this book to anyone who likes adventure, friendship and a bit of ocean facts. Overall I rate this book a 10 out of 10.

Emily is a regular reviewer for Alphabet Soup. Read Emily’s other reviews here. To send us YOUR story, poem, artwork or book review, read our submission guidelines. Happy reading!

Posted in Book reviews by Aashi, Book reviews by kids

Book review: Biscuits, bands and very big plans

Posted on by Alphabet Soup

REVIEWED BY AASHI, 7, VIC

The image shows the cover of a children's graphic novel called Tom Gates: Biscuits, Bands and very big plans by Liz Pichon. The cover illustration shows the title in child-like lettering surrounded by doodles of patterns and pictures like a dog, an arrow, smiley face, stars and a boy with short hair wearing a shirt that says 'Doodling Rocks'

Biscuits, Bands and Very Big Plans by Liz Pichon, Scholastic UK, ISBN 9781743832868

Aashi reviewed her own copy of this book.

Like other Tom Gates books, cheeky little Tom Gates is the star of this book as well. Tom loves to doodle but it’s hard in school when he sits right at the front of his classroom. He can even see through his report through his teacher’s nostrils! Mr Fullerman is basically bald and is a very strict teacher.

Tom, Derek and Norman have a band called ‘dogzombies’. They have a big mission which is to get this band well known.

On the other side is Delia, Tom’s sister. Delia hates Tom and Tom hates Delia. One day when Tom goes snooping into Delia’s room he finds something unusual. What was it? Little did he know that there could be a purple curse coming.

I would rate this book 10/10 because it is funny, interesting and mysterious. It would be a great book for 7–9-year-old kids.

Aashi is a regular book reviewer for Alphabet Soup. You can read more of her book reviews here. To send us YOUR book review, read our submission guidelines. Happy reading!

Posted in Book reviews by Ayaan, Book reviews by kids

Book review: Neverseen

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REVIEWED BY AYAAN, 10, VIC

The image shows the cover of a children's fantasy novel: Neverseen by Shannon Messenger. The cover illustation shows three children in cloaks and with wind-blown hair rushing along a wooden bridge while a huge wave splashes up behind them.

Neverseen by Shannon Messenger, Simon & Schuster Ltd, ISBN 9781471189449

Ayaan reviewed his own copy of this book.

Neverseen is the fourth book in the Keeper of the Lost Cities series, written by Shannon Messenger. The three books that precede it are, in order, Keeper of the Lost Cities, Exile and Everblaze.

Sophie Foster and her friends must go into hiding. And who better to keep them safe, than the Black Swan. They all have mixed feelings about meeting Sophie’s creators. With stowaways, species-threatening plagues, bizarre disguises, after curfew meetings and traitors, can they make it through and finally defeat the Neverseen?

When they meet with the Black Swan’s ruling order, they see bizarre disguises. Who are these mysterious people? Who is Squall, Granite, Blur, Wraith and Mr Forkle? When will they find out?

I would rate this book ten out of ten. I especially love the plot twist at the end when the traitor is finally revealed.

Ayaan is a regular book reviewer for Alphabet Soup. You can read more of his book reviews here. To send us YOUR book review, read our submission guidelines. Happy reading!

Posted in Book reviews by Emily, Book reviews by Iona Presentation College, Book reviews by kids

Book review: Wednesday Weeks and the Crown of Destiny

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REVIEWED BY EMILY, 9, WA (IONA PRESENTATION COLLEGE)

Image shows the cover of a children's novel: Wednesday Weeks and the Crown of Destiny by Denis Knight and Cristy Burne. The cover illustration shows a girl in a yellow polo shirt, with brown hair with a blue streak in it, a punk looking human-sized fairy with yellow wings and wearing a jumpsuit, a boy with dark skin and short hair wearing a white collared shirt and tie and carrying a sword, and a floating disembodied skull that looks cheerful. In the background are many steps leading up to what looks like giant concrete ice crystals.

Wednesday Weeks and the Crown of Destiny by Denis Knight and Cristy Burne, Hachette Australia, ISBN 9780734420213

Emily received a review copy of this book.

When Gorgomoth steals an oh-so-important crown he unleashes power that only the crown holds. Then, wanting revenge, he turns Wednesday’s Grandpa into a frog. However, this was only the beginning … 

I liked the fact that Adaline, who had been really helpful, got a good title as the summer princess and that everything went well in the end. I also liked how I had to keep on guessing what would happen and it certainly kept me on the edge of my bed. 

I recommend this book to anyone who likes magic and evil (stinky) sorcerers, regardless of your age.

Overall I rate this book as a 10 out of 10.

Wednesday Weeks and the Crown of Destiny is Book 2 in a series! Take a sneak peek inside the book.

Read Emily’s review of Book 1 here.

Emily is a member of Iona Presentation College’s student reviewers’ team. This is her second review for Alphabet Soup. Check out her earlier review of Book 1 in this series. To send us YOUR story, poem, artwork or book review, read our submission guidelines. Happy reading!

Posted in Book reviews by Iona Presentation College, Book reviews by kids

Book review: When We Say Black Lives Matter

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REVIEWED BY CHLOE, YEAR 6, WA (IONA PRESENTATION COLLEGE

Image shows the cover of a picture book: When We Say Black Lives Matter by Maxine Beneba Clarke. The cover illustration shows a black mother and child against a blue background. The child is carrying a handmade sign taped to a stick. The sign is facing against the child's leg, so we don't know what's written on it yet.

When We Say Black Lives Matter by Maxine Beneba Clarke, Hachette Australia, ISBN 9780734420428

Alphabet Soup provided a review copy of this book.

I enjoyed this colourful book. The topic is important and current as it talks about how black lives matter.

This story is told by a black child’s parents and reminds us all how important it is to consider everyone the same way and how sad and painful it can be for people when they are not treated as everyone else is. 

The colours and pictures in the book draw the reader’s attention, as they tell a story and show life in every illustration. Each page of this book has one word in a different colour and it underlines important values such as respect, knowledge, joy.

This book will surely spark a lot of conversations in every family. I rate this book 5 stars as it approaches the ‘black lives matter’ topic gently and positively.

Preview some pages from When We Say Black Lives Matter at the publisher’s website.

Iona Presentation College students are members of Alphabet Soup’s review team. This is Chloe’s first review for Alphabet Soup. If YOU would like to send us a book review, check out our submission guidelines. Happy reading!

Posted in Book reviews by Iona Presentation College, Book reviews by kids

Book review: Mel and Shell

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REVIEWED BY KATE, 11, WA (IONA PRESENTATION COLLEGE)

The image shows the cover of a children's novel: Mel and Shell by Julia Lawrinson. The cover has a 70s vibe. In the centre of the book are two girls with the backs to the viewer. They are both wearing jeans and bright coloured tshirts, one has long blonde hair and one has shoulder-length brown hair. They are dancing, with hands above their heads. The remaining ilustrations make an oval 'frame' around the girls. Crammed into these illustrations are orange and pink flowers, a pair of yellow roller skate boots, a grey horse, and a bike.

Mel and Shell by Julia Lawrinson, Fremantle Press, ISBN 9781760990725

The publisher provided a review copy of this book.

Mel and Shell is a book about friendship, laughter, friendship problems and of course ABBA. This book is set 40 years ago when the world was obsessed with the sensational band ABBA.

In this book Shell and her classmates are writing to a pen-pal from 1829 about their day, what they would be surprised about and what they would like. 

Another character in this book is Sharon the girl who can’t get enough of herself. She is a mean person but gets people to think that she is nice.

There were many surprises in this book but one of my favourites was that they went on school camp and Sharon forced Shell to push her and some boys out to an island and something happens to one of them.

The cover of this book is amazing and tells a lot, and I love the characters; Shell is just so outgoing, kind and funny and Mel is adventurous and nice. I recommend this book for kids aged 10 and up and for anyone who needs a good book to laugh.

I give this book 5 stars for the creativity and the good plot.

Read our interview with the author and read an excerpt from the book.

Iona Presentation College students are members of Alphabet Soup’s review team. This is Kate’s first review for Alphabet Soup. If YOU would like to send us a book review, check out our submission guidelines. Happy reading!