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

Book review: I am Rebel

Posted on by Alphabet Soup
I am Rebel by Ross Montgomery

REVIEWED BY REBEKAH, GRADE 5, NSW

I am Rebel by Ross Montgomery, Walker Books, ISBN 9781529502909

Rebekah’s review of this book was longlisted in the 2024 Young Reviewers’ Competition.

This heartachingly tender quest novel is an adventure from the very first page.

In Ross Montgomery’s I Am Rebel, readers are whisked away into a world where bravery and imagination collide. Set against the backdrop of a dystopian, war-torn world, this middle-grade novel introduces us to a canine protagonist, Rebel, who embodies the true essence of loyalty. As I journeyed through its pages, I found myself captivated by Rebel’s courageous spirit and the profound themes woven into Montgomery’s narrative tapestry. I Am Rebel not only entertains but also challenges young readers to experience the world in a refreshingly new way.

Rebel is a good dog, and he loves his simple, perfect life on the farm with his owner, Tom — until one day, the war comes too close …

Now Tom is determined to join the rebellion to defeat the king’s men. But Rebel knows war is dangerous, and he will stop at nothing to save the human he loves, meeting unexpected friends along the way.

The main characters of this story include Rebel, Tom, and the animals Rebel befriends on his journey to find Tom:
– Rebel’s role in this story is key; the book is told from his perspective and his role is just to be the true embodiment of doggedness. He stops at nothing to find Tom or help his friends, and he is caring, kind and courageous. At one point, he says:

I’m Tom’s dog, and he’s my boy. And if he’s stepped right inside the jaws of death, then I’m going to follow him into them and bring him back out.

– Tom is a determined 12-year-old, and he lies that he is 16 so that he can join the rebellion. Tom’s role in this story is to be Rebel’s goal to reach.

– Rebel’s animal friends provide him with shelter and help him navigate his way to the High Castle, where Tom is.

The themes in I am Rebel are meaningful and deep, especially in the dystopian world that Rebel must navigate through.

Themes of friendship, love and loyalty are explored in this book. Rebel’s hunt for Tom is the central message of this story, and it displays all of these.

The author, Ross Montgomery, has woven these themes in such a way that they are rooted in every nook and cranny that they can be.

Montgomery uses much description, and as I delved deeply into this book, it was as if I could feel pain, or heat, or rushing water. The emotive language is heartwarming, and the tension keeps you on the edge of your seat. There are parts where you bury your face in the pages and say: “No! It can’t end there!” Montgomery has used these elements in a perfectly balanced way.

Some other feedback from other readers:

“I Am Rebel both broke my heart and made it sing. This book is as close to perfect as it’s possible to get.” Natasha Farrant.

“A beautiful, heartfelt adventure.” Sophie Anderson.

Overall, this book is a classic; with strong themes, description, and the occasional dash of humour, it’s a treasure of writing.

Rebekah’s review was longlisted in the Primary category of Alphabet Soup’s 2024 Young Reviewers’ Competition. The competition is now closed, but we publish book reviews by young writers all year round. To send us YOUR book review, read our submission guidelines. Happy reading!

Posted in Book reviews by Aashi, Book reviews by kids

Book review: Wongutha Tales

Posted on by Alphabet Soup

Wongutha Tales: Bawoo Stories & Badudu Stories by May L. O’Brien, Fremantle Press, ISBN 9781760993412.

REVIEWED BY AASHI, 10, VIC

Aashi received a review copy of this book.

Wongutha Tales are stories from May L. O’Brien’s childhood and Dreamtime stories.

My favourite Bawoo story was ‘Why Emus Can’t Fly’. ‘Why Emus Can’t Fly’ is about the emus who would always brag about how they flew but when the other animals got annoyed they lost their power of flight. The moral of the story was: don’t brag, instead treasure and be humble with your gift and you will keep that gift. I enjoyed reading Wongutha Tales and learning about the Dreamtime stories. The message of the ‘Why Emus Can’t Fly’ story is so important and teaches a valuable lesson about humility and gratitude. I think it’s a great reminder to appreciate our talents and not boast about them.

It’s amazing how stories like these can contain such timeless knowledge. Wongutha Tales provides a unique perspective on life and nature, and the Dreamtime stories are deeply rooted in Aboriginal culture. I believe learning from different cultures and their teachings is crucial to broadening our understanding of the world. These stories have certainly left a lasting impression on me, and I look forward to exploring more indigenous literature.

I rate this book 5 stars out of 5 as it was a fascinating read. I enjoyed learning about the stories. I found the storytelling to be captivating and engaging. The way May L. O’Brien shared her childhood experiences and the Dreamtime stories was truly amazing. I was drawn into the world of Wongutha Tales and felt like I was alongside the characters as the tales unfolded.

Overall, this was not just an entertaining read, but also a fascinating one. It’s a book that I would highly recommend to anyone interested in Indigenous culture, storytelling, and valuable life lessons intertwined in captivating narratives.

Take a sneak peek inside Wongutha Tales.

Download a Wongutha Words activity sheet.

Download the Teachers’ Notes.

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 authors, interviews

Ashleigh Barton on the Freddie Spector, Fact Collector series

Posted on by Alphabet Soup
The cover of a junior fiction novel: Freddie Spector, Fact Collector: Space Cadet by Ashleigh Barton, illustrated by Peter Cheong.
The cover of a junior fiction novel: Freddie, Spector Fact Collector - Go for Gold
A head and shoulders photo of Ashleigh Barton, author

Ashleigh Barton writes picture books and junior fiction series for children. Before writing full time, she pursued her love of books (children’s books especially) by working in some of Australia’s biggest publishing houses. Today we’re chatting to Ashleigh about the first two books in her new Freddie Spector, Fact Collector series, illustrated by Peter Cheong.

From the publisher:

Fast-paced and humorous, this series is all about an everyday eight-year-old boy whose love of facts and extraordinary imagination come together with unexpected and hilarious results.

Go for Gold: Freddie is obsessed with facts about sport. It’s all he talks about: weird sports, Olympic sports, extreme sports, athletes and sporting history. And, when the medals for the school sports carnival go missing and the carnival is about to be cancelled, Freddie realises it’s up to him to solve the mystery and save the day.

Space Cadet: Freddie is obsessed with facts about space. It’s all he talks about: stars, planets, galaxies, astronauts, space travel – and, of course UFOs and extraterrestrials. And, after noticing some very suspicious goings-on, Freddie realises it’s up to him to discover the answer to a burning question: could aliens have landed in his neighbourhood?

You must have a large collection of facts to keep Freddie going in the series! What’s the most startling fact you’ve unearthed so far?

Yes, I did so much research to collect Freddie’s facts! I actually spent more time researching than writing. My goal was to find facts that were as interesting, fun or as unusual as possible – things you probably wouldn’t be learning at school. The most startling facts for me would probably the effects space has on the human body. For example, you grow taller since there’s no gravity compressing your spine, you experience muscle and bone mass loss, and your vision can change. It did not make me want to go to space!

The first two books in the series are sports-themed (Go for Gold) and space-themed (Space Cadet). Do you have a favourite sport you like to take part in … or to watch at a sports carnival or the Olympics?

Well, funnily enough I’m not much of a sporty person at all. I did play a lot of different sports growing up – netball, basketball, software, tennis, touch football, soccer and swimming – but was pretty average at all of them. I based Freddie’s dread of the sports carnival on my own experience as a child.

Peter Cheong illustrates the Freddie Spector series and we love his humorous black-and-white illustrations. Did you discuss your characters with Peter during the book’s production?

I love Peter’s work too! And no – we didn’t work together at all. Peter completely did his own thing and brought the characters to life based on reading the story. I think he did an incredible job and I really love the way he’s portrayed Freddie and the other characters.

Do you have a tip for kids who’d like to write their own mystery?

My tip for kids who’d like to write their own mystery would be to think about ways to keep the reader guessing. If the reader is trying to figure out what happened, they’re going to want to keep reading the story. Think about clues and twists and red herrings (clues that are intentionally misleading), you can include along the way.

What’s next for you and your writing?

At the moment, I’m working on some books that I haven’t shown anyone yet, but next year I’ve got a new middle grade novel and a picture book I’m super excited about. The novel, which will be published in May, is called How to Sail to Somewhere and the official tagline is: “A story of lost and found, of friendship, family, hope and the power of the ocean, for middle-grade readers who love a mystery.”  The picture book will be out a bit later in the year and is called Hedgehog Echidna. Another very talented illustrator is currently working on the illustrations, but I’m not sure how much more I can say about that one yet!

The first two books in the Freddie Spector, Fact Collector series are out now! Ask for them at your favourite bookshop or local library.

Awesome extras:

Take a sneak peek inside Go for Gold

Take a sneak peek inside Space Cadet

Download the Teachers’ Notes for this series

Visit author Ashleigh Barton’s website for more about her and her books

Visit illustrator Peter Cheong’s website for more about him and his books

The cover of a junior fiction novel: Freddie Spector, Fact Collector: Space Cadet by Ashleigh Barton, illustrated by Peter Cheong.
The cover of a junior fiction novel: Freddie, Spector Fact Collector - Go for Gold
Posted in Book reviews by kids

Book review: Adoette

Posted on by Alphabet Soup
Adoette by Lydia Monks

REVIEWED BY JONATHAN, 6, WA

Adoette by Lydia Monks, Andersen Press, ISBN 9781839131905

Jonathan’s review of this book was longlisted in the 2024 Young Reviewers’ Competition.

I love this book because it is about the past and present. I really like the last page because it is so colourful and full of nature! 

Adoette means ‘big tree’ and this book has taught me how hard it is to fight for something you love. I felt calm and peaceful when I was reading this book. I actually liked the sad part because it made the people come together. I would recommend this book to other kids because it’s fun!  

See inside the book at Walker Books Australia.

Jonathan’s review was longlisted in the Junior category of Alphabet Soup’s 2024 Young Reviewers’ Competition. The competition is now closed, but we publish book reviews by young writers all year round. To send us YOUR book review, read our submission guidelines. Happy reading!

Posted in Book reviews by kids

Book review: Smarty Pup Pawsome Genius Friends Fur-ever

Posted on by Alphabet Soup
Smarty Pup Pawsome Genius Friends Fur-ever by Anh Do and Anton Emdin

REVIEWED BY EMMA, 6, QLD

Smarty Pup: Pawsome Genius Friends Fur-ever by Anh Do, illustrated by Anton Emdin, Allen and Unwin, ISBN 9781760526399

Emma’s review of this book was longlisted in the 2024 Young Reviewers’ Competition.

Smarty pup is funny because the pup JJ can talk. JJ gets hit with purple goo that is from space. This book will make you laugh because JJ saves the day and he is a smart dog.

I liked reading it because I have a dog. I love the pictures because they are colourful like a comic. He looks cute.

Emma’s review was longlisted in the Junior category of Alphabet Soup’s 2024 Young Reviewers’ Competition. The competition is now closed, but we publish book reviews by young writers all year round. To send us YOUR book review, read our submission guidelines. Happy reading!

Posted in Book reviews by kids, Mater Dei School QLD,

Book review: The Deadlands: Hunted

Posted on by Alphabet Soup
The cover of a children's novel, Deadlands: Hunted by Skye Melki-Wegner

REVIEWED BY NICK, 11, QLD

The Deadlands: Hunted by Skye Melki-Wegner, Walker Books, ISBN 9781529516241

Nick’s review of this book was longlisted in the 2024 Young Reviewers’ Competition.

The Deadlands: Hunted is an action-packed book about two dinosaur kingdoms at war. The main character, Eleri, a dinosaur, joins a group of exiles after being banished to the Deadlands after an act of treachery to his kingdom. In the Deadlands, Eleri and the other exiles discover something that changes everything, but knowing this secret puts them in grave danger. Will Eleri and the exiles survive or be slaughtered trying?

When I read The Deadlands I was always on the edge of my seat wondering what would happen next. However, at the same time you get to see Eleri and the exiles build up heartfelt relationships that help them overcome challenges and be a stronger herd.

I would recommend this book for readers between 10-year-olds to adults because it is too complex for younger children.

My dad and I loved The Deadlands: Hunted and were disappointed there’s only three in the series.  Five  stars.

Nick’s review was longlisted in the Primary category of Alphabet Soup’s 2024 Young Reviewers’ Competition. The competition is now closed, but we publish book reviews by young writers all year round. To send us YOUR book review, read our submission guidelines. Happy reading!

Posted in Book reviews by kids

Book review: Ruby Red Shoes

Posted on by Alphabet Soup
Ruby Red Shoes by Kate Knapp

REVIEWED BY WINNIE, 7, SA

Ruby Red Shoes by Kate Knapp, HarperCollins Australia, ISBN 9780732293628

Winnie’s review of this book was longlisted in the 2024 Young Reviewers’ Competition.

Ruby Red Shoes by Kate Knapp is a heartwarming story about a hare called Ruby. She lives in a beautiful caravan with her kind grandmother, Babushka Galina Galushka. They spend their days in their beautiful garden, growing fruits and vegetables and lots of flowers. Ruby loves singing to the plants and birds in her garden. 

I enjoyed reading this book because the pictures and words makes my heart warm. I really like the look of Ruby’s caravan. The pictures are very detailed and colourful and I love them.

I would recommend reading Ruby Red Shoes to anyone who enjoys a gentle and calming book.

I give this book 10 out of 10.

Winnie’s review was longlisted in the Junior category of Alphabet Soup’s 2024 Young Reviewers’ Competition. The competition is now closed, but we publish book reviews by young writers all year round. To send us YOUR book review, read our submission guidelines. Happy reading!

Posted in authors, interviews

Cassy Polimeni on Ella and the Amazing Frog Orchestra

Posted on by Alphabet Soup
A head and shoulders photo of Cassy Polimeni
Cassy Polimeni (photo by Fran Jorgensen)
Ella and the Amazing Frog Orchestra by Cassy Polimeni, illustrated by Hykie Breeze

Cassy Polimeni writes books for children and young adults. She has worked as a bookseller, travel writer, magazine editor, TV book reviewer and airport chauffeur. Today we’re chatting to Cassy about Ella and the Amazing Frog Orchestra – the first in a fun four-book junior fiction series, illustrated by Hykie Breeze.

The publisher provided Alphabet Soup with a reader copy of Ella and the Amazing Frog Orchestra.

From the publisher:

Eight-year-old Ella hates her new house. She wants to be back in her old house with her best friend Viv next door … until one day Ella discovers a secret pond in her neighbours’ backyard with an orchestra of frogs! At her new school Ella meets Mai and learns about their class frog bog project. But when Ella finds out that the neighbours’ secret pond is under threat Ella and Mai must come up with a plan to save the frogs – before it’s too late!

Did you ever have to move house when you were growing up?

I lived in the same house my whole childhood, but some of my closest friends at school over the years were ‘the new kid’. I think any new experience – starting school, a new after-school activity or joining a new social group – can feel a bit like moving house because you’re thrown into a new world with new faces and new rules and you might miss the comfort of familiar things. That got me thinking about what might make it easier for Ella and I decided it would be nature — and frogs! – and that connecting with this part of her new environment would help her feel more at home. I did love reading up my favourite tree when I was a kid, just like Ella does in the book. Seeing that childhood memory brought to life with Hykie Breeze’s sweet illustration was a highlight!

What’s your favourite frog?

That’s too hard – with over 7500 species to choose from I need at least a Top 10! I have been fascinated with glass frogs lately — they’re see-through, so you can see their internal organs. Very cool and slightly gross. I’m also fascinated by a tree frog that was discovered in Western Australia recently who was bright blue because of a genetic quirk (tree frogs are usually green).

There are lots of different kinds of frog calls (a frog orchestra!) in the book. Are they based on frogs you can hear where you live or did you research frog calls before you started the writing? 

Both! When I had the idea for a frog orchestra I listened to lots of frog recordings (The Frog ID app is great for this) and tried to work out how to put the sounds into words (onomatopoeia) as well as which calls reminded me of which instruments in an orchestra. I didn’t include frog species names because I wanted people from all around Australia (and hopefully the world) to imagine these frogs might live near them.

Is there something you wish everyone knew about frogs?

One of my favourite frog facts is that frogs are an ‘indicator species’ (like bees and coral), which means they can tell us how healthy the environment is. Because of their extremely sensitive skin, frogs are the first to react and respond to changes in their environment, which makes them a bit like an alarm if something is wrong. They are canaries in the coal mine of climate change. Their sensitive skin also means it’s very important not to touch them if you can help it. Anything on your skin – even soap or sunscreen – could be harmful to them. It’s best to admire them from a distance, but if you ever need to pick up a frog for any reason you should use rinsed/dampened rubber gloves.

Can you tell us a bit about what you’re working on next? 

The next book in the series, Ella and the Sleepover Safari, will be out early 2025 so I’m excited to be able to start sharing that very soon. It’s about what happens when Ella’s old friend Viv and new friend Mai meet for the first time at her birthday party – a sleepover at the zoo! The girls don’t get along at first but when an animal escapes they need to figure out if they can work together. I’m also working on Books 3 and 4 in the Ella and the Frogs series as well as a narrative non-fiction picture book all about science and wonder with CSIRO Publishing.

Ella and the Amazing Frog Orchestra is out now! Ask for it at your favourite bookshop or local library.

AWESOME EXTRAS

Take a sneak peek inside the book (look for the thumbnails next to the cover)

Ask your grown-up if you can take part in the seventh annual FrogID Week (November 8th to 17th, 2024), which is the Australian Museum’s national citizen science project.

Visit Cassy Polimeni’s website to learn more about her and her books

Ella and the Amazing Frog Orchestra by Cassy Polimeni, illustrated by Hykie Breeze
Posted in Book reviews by kids, Mater Dei School QLD,

Book review: Howl’s Moving Castle

Posted on by Alphabet Soup
Howl's Moving Castle by Diana Wynne Jones

REVIEWED BY DEXTER, 11, QLD

Howl’s Moving Castle by Diana Wynne Jones, HarperCollins GB, ISBN 9780007299263

Dexter’s review of this book was longlisted in the 2024 Young Reviewers’ Competition.

If you’re a fan of fantasy and suspense, this is the book for you. Howl’s Moving Castle is a 302-page novel about a girl called Sophie who lived a quiet life, when she gets cursed by the witch of the waste. She can’t tell anyone about her curse, so she goes to visit a dangerous man called Howl who is the only person who might be able to break the curse. The problem is Howl lives in a giant walking castle with no signs on how to get in and is known for being a very bad criminal.

The book has trickery, comedy, adventure and loveable characters. The main characters are Howl, a funny wizard who can sometimes turn into a birdlike creature. Then there’s the main character Sophie, who was a hat maker and now her main priority is to break a curse. Sophie also has a lot of character development through the book. Then there’s one more main character – Calcifer, a fire spirit who’s funny, sassy and is Howl’s pet, who powers the castle and is always trying to make bargains.   He also has a very emotional and happy ending. Also, there’s one side character that is quite important, his name is Michael.  He’s Howl’s apprentice wizard, and he appears lots throughout the book.

I would say Howl’s Moving Castle is a mature book for ages 10 and above. It’s beloved by many and is still my favourite book.  I read it all in one day and would rate it 5 out of 5 stars. It has two sequels and even has a fully animated movie produced by the wonderful Studio Ghibli.

Read the first chapter of Howl’s Moving Castle at the publisher’s website.

Dexter’s review was longlisted in the Primary category of Alphabet Soup’s 2024 Young Reviewers’ Competition. The competition is now closed, but we publish book reviews by young writers all year round. To send us YOUR book review, read our submission guidelines. Happy reading!

Posted in Book reviews by kids

Book review: Claris: The Chicest Mouse in Paris

Posted on by Alphabet Soup
Claris the Chicest mouse in Paris by Megan Hess

REVIEWED BY KINSEY, 7, QLD

Claris: The Chicest Mouse in Paris by Megan Hess, Hardie Grant Children’s Publishing, ISBN 9781760502591

Kinsey’s review of this book was longlisted in the 2024 Young Reviewers’ Competition.

This is my favourite book because it has lots of fashion in it and it’s also by my favourite author Megan Hess. Claris is a very stylish mouse and in the story Claris finds a new friend who is a cat called Monsieur. It’s about her trying to find a new home in Paris.

I like the illustrations because it has so many details and I also like all of the different pinks. My favourite part of the story is when Claris saves the cat and then runs back to her flat because I think it was kind that Claris saved him. I like the rhyming words because it is entertaining. I like this book because I like drawing fashion or even copying the dresses, shoes and the handbags from the book.

I think kids in year two, year one, prep and kindergarten would like this book as much as I do.

5/5 stars

Kinsey’s review was longlisted in the Junior category of Alphabet Soup’s 2024 Young Reviewers’ Competition. The competition is now closed, but we publish book reviews by young writers all year round. To send us YOUR book review, read our submission guidelines. Happy reading!