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, Oxley Christian College

Book review: The Wolf, The Duck and the Mouse

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The Wolf The Duck and the mouse by Mac Barnett and Jon Klassen. Image: Picture book with the title in black print on a white banner at the top of the book. Bottom two-thirds of the book shows a tree trunk with a wolf hiding behind it and a duck and mouse sitting against the the front of the tree trunk. REVIEWED BY ISABEL, 8, VIC

The Wolf, the Duck & the Mouse by Mac Barnett, illustrated by Jon Klassen, Walker Books, ISBN 9781406377798

Isabel borrowed a copy of this book from her library.

The Wolf, the Duck & the Mouse is about a mouse in the woods unexpectedly swallowed by a wolf.

It is the beginning of the story, but is this the end already? What does the mouse find in the dark tummy of the beast? What is life like on the inside?

This book shows what it feels like for every character in this book.

This book is great for children between 7-10 years old, with remarkable illustrations and some silly nonsense.  The illustrations have been created to give watery paint and collage effects.  Others like the wolf are textured and maybe you might see some splatter paint on every page. This book also tells you a back story about why the wolf howls at the moon.

What challenges must the animals overcome to save their lives?

I give this humorous book a 5-star rating.

If you’d like to read more book reviews by Oxley Christian College students, you can click on ‘Oxley Christian College’ in the grey categories box in the right column of this blog. To send us YOUR book review, check out our submission guidelines. Happy reading!

Posted in Book reviews by kids, Oxley Christian College

Book review: Do Not Lick This Book

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Do Not Lick this Book by Idan Ben-Barak and Julian Frost. Image: Picture book with a yellow cover. The title DO NOT LICK THIS BOOK is within a white speech bubble, text is being spoken by some tiny germ characters on the front cover. REVIEWED BY WEYLEN, 8, VIC

Do not lick this book by Idan Ben-Barak and Julian Frost, Allen& Unwin, ISBN 9781760293055

Weylen borrowed a copy of this book from her school library.

This is an impressive book about different germs and what they do. Find out which germs help us and which germs don’t.

Take Min on an awesome adventure and join her too! Meet all her new friends and find out what she discovers at different places.

My favourite part is when Min finds out what all her microbe friends do.

I recommend this book to children 7-9yrs old who want to become doctors so they know what kind of germs there are.

I give this a 7 out of 10 rating because some pages were easy to understand and others were challenging.

If you’d like to read more book reviews by Oxley Christian College students, you can click on ‘Oxley Christian College’ in the grey categories box in the right column of this blog. To send us YOUR book review, check out our submission guidelines. Happy reading!

Posted in Book reviews by kids, Oxley Christian College

Book review: Mopoke

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Mopoke by Philip Bunting. Image: picture book cover with black background and a southern boobook Owl sitting on a branch. The title MOPOKE is in white under the owl. REVIEWED BY CHARLIE, 8, VIC

Mopoke by Philip Bunting, Scholastic Australia, ISBN 9781742991658

Charlie read a copy of this book at his school library.

Mopoke discovers new ways to be an everyday owl. That’s hard for an owl to do when all you do every day is sit on a branch.

Come along on a journey. High in a tree.

The imaginary life of Mopoke, a Southern Boobook, is amazing. Characters include other mopokes, other animals and everyday objects. They try different ways to annoy Mopoke.

The illustrations are amazing as they help the reader really get to know Mopoke and his friends. My favourite character is the ‘fropoke’ because of the clever rhyme with an unusual word. Read this book to find out more about the interesting vocabulary.

I rate this book 5 out of 5 definitely because Philip Bunting has alternated pages with text and pictures in perfect balance.

I recommend this book for children aged 3-9 years old because it’s easy for them to copy and draw their own versions of mopokes.

If you’d like to read more book reviews by Oxley Christian College students, you can click on ‘Oxley Christian College’ in the grey categories box in the right column of this blog. To send us YOUR book review, check out our submission guidelines. Happy reading!

Posted in Book reviews by kids, Oxley Christian College

Book review: Queenie

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Queenie by Corinne Fenton and Peter GouldthorpeREVIEWED BY ELIZABETH, 8, VIC

Queenie by Corinne Fenton, illustrated by Peter Gouldthorpe, Black Dog Books, ISBN 1876372974

Elizabeth read this book in her school library.

Queenie is an Indian elephant. When she gets separated from her mother, where does she go? Will she ever find her mum?

Follow Queenie’s journey to a new life. She grows to be an amazing elephant, strong and big. She becomes a legend.

She carries hundreds of people who feed her lots of peanuts, her favourite food.

My favourite picture is of two elephants playing in a bright green forest, splashing in the glittering water. Their hideaway place is calm and peaceful.

People of all ages, children and adults, who like elephants, should read this book.

I give this book a 10 out of 10 star rating because of the fascinating pictures that fade into the plain light grey outline border.

If you’d like to read more book reviews by Oxley Christian College students, you can click on ‘Oxley Christian College’ in the grey categories box in the right column of this blog. To send us YOUR book review, check out our submission guidelines. Happy reading!

Posted in Book reviews by kids, Oxley Christian College

Book review: Rodney Loses It

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Rodney Loses It by Michael Gerard Bauer and Kristina KrebsREVIEWED BY RACHEL, 8, VIC

Rodney Loses It by Michael Gerard Bauer, illustrated by Christina Krebs,
Scholastic Press, ISBN 9781742991900

Rachel read a copy of this book in her school library.

Wow! Look at Rodney, a crazy rabbit.  He totally lost it, but what did he lose?

Read on to find more clues.

Rodney loved everything, but the one thing he loved the most was drawing.  Rodney sketched all the time. He treasured his pencils, pen and textas.

Chrissie Krebs uses such impeccable pencil skills to give great clues and encourage children to really dive deep into this book.

Michael Gerard Bauer uses amazing adjectives to play with words, such as ‘bonkers’, that children would find funny.

I love this book because it’s hilarious.

I give this book a 10/10 rating for children in aged 8-11.

This is Rachel’s first book review for Alphabet Soup. If you’d like to read more book reviews by Oxley Christian College students, you can click on ‘Oxley Christian College’ in the grey categories box in the right column of this blog. To send us YOUR book review, check out our submission guidelines. Happy reading!

Posted in Book reviews by kids, Oxley Christian College

Book review: I’m Australian Too

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I'm Australian Too by Mem Fox, illustrated by Ronojoy GhoshREVIEWED BY MIRANDA, 9, VIC

I’m Australian Too by Mem Fox,
illustrations by Ronojoy Ghosh, Scholastic, ISBN 9781760276218

Miranda read a copy of this book in her school library.

I’m Australian Too is a beautiful book with its sing-song like words and detailed pictures.

On every page you will get a surprise. You will read about different cultures and countries. Each will page will tell you about immigrants and why they came to Australia.

This book celebrates that we’re all Australians no matter where we came from. I recommend this book for 3-10 year olds because there are not so many words. I rate this book 10/10 because it has a great message for everybody about how we are an international continent.

This is Miranda’s first book review for Alphabet Soup. If you’d like to read more book reviews by Oxley Christian College students, you can click on ‘Oxley Christian College’ in the grey categories box in the right column of this blog. To send us YOUR book review, check out our submission guidelines. Happy reading!

Posted in Book reviews by kids, Oxley Christian College

Book review: The Great Rabbit Chase

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The Great Rabbit Chase by Freya BlackwoodREVIEWED BY CINDY, 7, VIC

The Great Rabbit Chase
by Freya Blackwood, Scholastic,
ISBN 97817438111641

Cindy read this book in her school library.

A girl’s mum goes out to buy a pair of gumboots but comes home with a rabbit instead.

This book is about a little girl, her mum and lots of other people trying to catch a rabbit who is very fast.  Where is the rabbit going?  Why is he escaping?

I appreciate this book because there is a board game in the endpapers.

I recommend this book for kids who love rabbits and games, particularly kids who are 4 to 9 years old.  I give this book a 10 out of 10 rating.

This is Cindy’s first book review for Alphabet Soup. If you’d like to read more book reviews by Oxley Christian College students, you can click on ‘Oxley Christian College’ in the grey categories box in the right column of this blog. To send us YOUR book review, check out our submission guidelines. Happy reading!

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Top reads: September 2018

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Here we are at the end of September already, and our Top Reads team members have some fabulous recommendations for your holiday reading! Check out these great books:

You’ll find a recommended list from our Top Reads Team on the last day of every month (February to November). If you’d like even more recommendations, browse all through all our Top Reads ever!

*All our Top Readers are kids aged 13 and under. No grownups allowed!

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Young writers in action: The Four Seasons

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cherry blossom branch

THE FOUR SEASONS
by Monica, 7, VIC

In Summer rabbits hop around,
Bees are buzzing near the ground.

In Autumn leaves turn red, orange and brown,
My feet in the leaves make a rustling sound.

Winter’s good for playing in the snow,
Sometimes snowflakes land on your nose.

In Spring flowers start to bloom,
The buds on the trees will turn to leaves soon.

All the seasons are full of fun,
Which season is your favourite one?

This is Monica’s first poem for Alphabet Soup. To send us YOUR story, poem, artwork or book review, check out our submission guidelines. Happy reading!

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Young writers in action: Missing Shoes

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MISSING SHOES
Story and artwork by Joshua, 9, NSW

A sneaker with a red flame along the side

I couldn’t wait for this weekend! I was going to play against the Eagles in soccer! Dad bought me a new pair of sneakers for the game. Mum and dad chose the closest seats in the stadium that they could get.

At training, I practiced dribbling, passing, dodging, shooting and defending. I was sure we were going to win the trophy.

On Saturday, I rushed out to soccer. I did push-ups, sit-ups, dribbling, passing, dodging, shooting and defending. I was a right-mid-centre in the game.

Coach asked, “Are you ready, Josh?”
“No, I can’t find my new sneakers in my locker,” I replied, poking my head out.
“You’ll have to wear your old sneakers,” teased Fred as he walked by. He always teased me.
“Yes,” I groaned. I couldn’t let my team down, just because I couldn’t find my new sneakers.

Later in the game, the Eagles were leading by 4 to 3. We needed two or more goals to win the trophy.

“This is a dumb game,” shouted Fred as he kicked off his sneakers and stomped off to a bench. Fred, as well as being a teaser, was also a sore loser.

I turned around to look. When I read the label of the sneakers, it said, “Josh.” Fred must have stolen my sneakers when I wasn’t looking!

I put them on. Then I heard a shout, “Josh!”

It was Timmy! I got up and kicked the ball into the goal! It was a side kick.

Then I walked over to Fred and I asked, “Fred, why did you take my sneakers?”
Fred answered, “I thought your sneakers looked nice.”
“Fred, what do you think if you put your old sneakers back on and join the game as well?” I asked.
“My sneakers are worn out. The soles have fallen out and I don’t want to let my team down, but I had to …” Fred murmured.
“You can wear my old sneakers,” I replied.

Fred hesitated but soon he and I were back in the game. The game went on. We kicked, passed, kicked, tackled and dribbled, until Timmy passed it to me. I was clear, but soon an Eagle blocked the goal. I looked around. I saw Fred. He was clear. No one noticed him. I passed the ball to Fred. Fred kicked it into the goal. The whistle blew. We had won the trophy just in time.

Now Fred doesn’t tease me anymore, but we are best friends.

You can read some of Joshua’s earlier work here.  If YOU would like to send us a story, drawing, poem, or book review, check out our submission guidelines. Happy writing!