Book reviews by kids

Book review: Do not lick this book

Posted on September 25, 2017September 25, 2017 by Alphabet Soup

REVIEWED BY MATILDA, 11, WA

Do not lick this book by Idan Ben-Barak, illustrated by Julian Frost, A & U Children’s, ISBN 9781760293055

Matilda received a review copy of this book from the publisher.

This picture book is an information book about germs — how small they are, and where you’ll find them. This is an interactive book and as part of the story you have to take Min (a microbe) on an adventure. Do not lick this book includes photographs taken with a microscope to show close-ups of paper, teeth, your shirt, and your belly button (your skin), as well as comic-style illustrations.

I like how it turns a serious topic into a fun story with cute germ characters. I found the teeth page very interesting with the close-up view of your teeth.

This book is bright, funny, and child-friendly. It’s great for ages 4+. I’m 11 and I still found it entertaining and interesting. So did my mum (and she’s 43).

Matilda is one of our regular book reviewers. You can read Matilda’s other reviews here. If YOU would like to send us a book review, check out our submission guidelines. Happy reading!

Book review: The Snow Wombat

Posted on September 18, 2017September 10, 2017 by Alphabet Soup

REVIEWED BY JEREMIAH, 8, VIC

The Snow Wombat by Susannah Chambers, ill. by Mark Jackson, Allen and Unwin, ISBN 9781760113810

The Snow Wombat by Susannah Chambers, illustrated by Mark Jackson

Jeremiah borrowed a copy of this book from his school library.

The Snow Wombat is a heart-warming story of a curious little wild wombat who sees lots of nature covered in snow, including the high country and his nose!

This is a beautiful story with amazing illustrations and incredibly funny words in it. It encourages little kids to predict the rhyming words.

I rate this book as suitable for 3–4 year olds. My joy rating is 100%.

This is Jeremiah’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!

Book reviews by kids, Oxley Christian College

Book review: Gary

Posted on September 15, 2017September 10, 2017 by Alphabet Soup

REVIEWED BY ZAC, 8, VIC

Gary by Leila Rudge, Walker Books Australia, ISBN 9781925081695

Zac borrowed a copy of this book from his school library.

Gary is like the other racing pigeons but when they depart in the travel basket, Gary stays at home.

Gary can’t go anywhere because he can’t fly!

When the others arrive back home, Gary collects notes about their experiences so that he can remember. But, is Gary still the same as the other pigeons? Will Gary eventually find a way to travel?

I recommend this book for kids aged 4–8 years old.

Leila Rudge’s words and illustrations are outstanding. They hook the reader into the ordinary, but then extraordinary, life of Gary.

I give it a 6-star rating.

This is Zac’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!

Book reviews by kids, Oxley Christian College

Book review: Chip

Posted on September 12, 2017September 10, 2017 by Alphabet Soup

REVIEWED BY NICHOLAS, 9, VIC

Chip by Kylie Howarth, The Five Mile Press, ISBN 9781760400736

Nicholas borrowed this book from his school library.

Every seagull loves chips and Chip is a cute little seagull who loves fish and chips especially. However, when he gets banned from his favourite chip store near the Beach, he tries to form a plan with his friends to get access to his precious chips again.

How will they get their chips back so they don’t starve?

I think this book will be wonderful for children aged 3 and over. It has excellent pictures to show the little ones what is happening and describes the setting in detail. I personally think it is a magnificent book.

I give it a 10 out of 10 rating.

This is Nicholas’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!

Book reviews by kids

Book review: Demon Dentist

Posted on August 7, 2017July 31, 2017 by Alphabet Soup

REVIEWED BY CADENCE, 8, QLD

Demon Dentist by David Walliams (book cover)

Demon Dentist by David Walliams, HarperCollins Publishers, ISBN 9780007453580

Cadence reviewed her own copy of this book.

David Walliams’ fascinating chapter book Demon Dentist combines horrific details, very cheerful endings with parts that would make you desperate to cry in an instant! Demon Dentist is a very emotional book. It includes petrifying moments, depressing chapters and pages that would blow your socks off by the way the mood changed from paranoid to like the way you just ate your favourite food! The interesting characters will dazzle you.

Alfie has already had an appalling time since he has lost his mother and now his father has been put in a wheelchair due to his shallow breathing. Now his extremely shy principal allows some new dentist — Miss Root — into their school. Ever since Miss Root arrived, the shortest girl in the school ‘Gabz’ has been stating that a witch had been flying around town stealing teeth and returning them with revolting items like ‘bats wings, fresh eyeballs’ and so on.

The first thing you noticed about Miss Root were her sparkling white teeth, and then to her black eyes that were as black as the darkest hour of midnight. With Alfie’s awesome eyes he even spotted a splat of red blood on Miss Root’s blinding white shoes. Although Miss Root sounds as nice as ever, why would she give away ‘MUMMY’S’ toothpaste that burned through stone and give free lollies that looked as if they were loaded with tons and tons of sugar.

This novel is really well written. This narrative gives you a bit of shock, happiness, and is yet very intriguing. David Walliams’ Demon Dentist should make you feel like you’re in the story. I would highly recommend this to people of all ages and even people who don’t like reading, because this fantastic book would definitely hook you in, make you want to just read and find out what’s going to happen and even want to read this whole novel over and over again.

This is Cadence’s first book review for Alphabet Soup. If YOU would like to send us a book review, check out our submission guidelines.

Happy reading!

Book reviews by Kailani, Book reviews by kids

Book review: The Spectacular Spencer Gray

Posted on July 21, 2017July 21, 2017 by Alphabet Soup

BOOK REVIEWED BY KAILANI, 11, QLD

The Spectacular Spencer Gray by Deb Fitzpatrick

The Spectacular Spencer Gray by Deb Fitzpatrick, Fremantle Press, ISBN 9781925164671

Kailani received a review copy of this book from the publisher.

Spencer Gray is just an ordinary kid, he lives in a family of four, goes to school at his local high school, hangs out with his mates and plays football at break time. But one day, while retrieving a football from the bush behind the oval he sees a man run off, almost like he had been disturbed and then the sound of a motorbike. Spencer is suspicious so he decides to figure out what is going on.

From that day on, Spencer’s life changes — secret rescue missions, midnight bike rides and dangerous situations. All to save one of Australia’s most endangered marsupials.

I don’t normally read books with strong male characters, but this book was different. It combined the element of adventure with the Australian bush and caring for animals and nature. I also really liked the vivid description that the author used in the book, it really painted a picture in my mind of every scene, helped to build the tension and made me want to read on.

I recommend this book for boys and girls aged 10–14, especially if you enjoy mystery, adventure and looking after Australian wildlife.

[You can read a sample chapter from the book via the publisher.]

We are pleased to welcome Kailani back as a reviewer at Alphabet Soup. Check out Kailani’s earlier reviews here. Kailani also has her own blog!

If YOU would like to send us a book review, check out our submission guidelines. Happy reading …

Read a review of the first book in the series — The Amazing Spencer Gray — in a post from 2013.

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Book reviews by kids, Book reviews by Matilda

Book review: One Thousand Trees

Posted on June 26, 2017May 16, 2017 by Alphabet Soup

REVIEWED BY MATILDA, 11, WA

One Thousand Trees,
by Kyle Hughes-Odgers,
Fremantle Press, ISBN 9781925164725

Matilda received a review copy of this book from the publisher.

This is about living the city with polluted air, and how Frankie wishes there were trees. And then Frankie starts to imagine …

I’ve seen some of Kyle Hughes-Odgers artwork before, in Ten Tiny Things (written by Meg McKinlay), and also on walls and murals around Perth.

One Thousand Trees is reflective and shows you what happens in Frankie’s head as Frankie imagines a forest of trees. The story is told mostly through the illustrations, with not many words, and the words that are there are mostly prepositions. I like the shapes used for the trees and leaves, and the range of greens in the forest pages. (At the beginning of the book you see mostly greys and dark colours). The endpapers are good to look at — they change from the front of the book to the ones at the back of the book because of the story.

This picture book would suit children who live in the city, and kids who would like more trees in their environment. This book suits ages 4 to 8.

Matilda is one of our regular book reviewers. You can read Matilda’s other reviews here. If YOU would like to send us a book review, check out our submission guidelines. Happy reading!

Book reviews by kids, Book reviews by Matilda, poetry

Book review: Firefly July

Posted on June 12, 2017June 6, 2017 by Alphabet Soup

REVIEWED BY MATILDA, 11, WA

Firefly July by Paul Janeczko (editor), ill. Melissa Sweet, Candlewick, ISBN 9780763648428

Matilda reviews her own copy of this book.

This is a book of VERY short poems all about different subjects.

I like the way the book progresses from spring, then through all the seasons, and ends at winter. My favourite poem was called ‘Window’ by Carl Sandburg. It’s only 3 lines long and it’s about the dark night having slashes of light. I really liked the choice of words and I’d like to read more by this poet.

Melissa Sweet’s illustration style definitely suits the poems. It’s interesting that in many of the illustrations she uses a sort of collage.

I recommend this book for ages 7+ and for people who like short poems!

Matilda is one of our regular book reviewers. You can read Matilda’s other reviews here. If YOU would like to send us a book review, check out our submission guidelines. Happy reading!

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Book reviews by kids, Book reviews by Matilda

Book review: Amazing animals of Australia’s national parks

Posted on June 5, 2017June 5, 2017 by Alphabet Soup

REVIEWED BY MATILDA, 11, WA

Amazing Animals of Australia’s National Parks by Gina M Newton, National Library of Australia, ISBN 9780642278883

Matilda received a copy of this book from the publisher.

In this nonfiction book about Australian animals, there is one page for each animal with the headings:

What is it?

Where does it live? and

What is its life like?

I like the way the book is split up into the climates that the animals live in and the photographs are extremely professional. There is a ‘how to use this book’ page, which is really helpful for understanding certain symbols used in the book.

My favourite animal in this book was the Rufous Bettong (Aepyprymnus rufescens). This animal lives in woodlands, grasslands and forests.

I would recommend this book to anyone who loves animals and wants to know more about Australian animals.

Matilda is one of our regular book reviewers. You can read Matilda’s other reviews here. If YOU would like to send us a book review, check out our submission guidelines. Happy reading!

Book reviews by kids, Book reviews by Matilda

Book review: To the Lighthouse

Posted on May 22, 2017May 16, 2017 by Alphabet Soup

REVIEWED BY MATILDA, 11, WA

To the Lighthouse by Cristy Burne,
ill. Amanda Burnett, Fremantle Press,
ISBN 9781925164619

Matilda received a review copy of this book from the publisher.

Isaac and Emmy are two very different kids. They meet on Rottnest Island when their families are on holiday. Isaac is a shy, nervous boy, but Emmy is an extravagant daredevil. Emmy wants Isaac to begin a game of Dare — involving jumping into icy cold water, riding all the way to the lighthouse, and riding there at night by themselves. It’s dark, and it’s miles and miles away. Isaac’s Mum is very overprotective and she worries a lot. Luckily she doesn’t know they’re planning to go to the lighthouse at night …

It’s great to read a book that is set in WA, instead of the usual places in kids’ books (like England or Sydney). The illustrations are in black and white and appear about once in every chapter. They suit the story — they’re a bit quirky, like the characters in the book.

To the Lighthouse would be a good book for 7 to 10 year olds.

Matilda is one of our regular book reviewers. You can read Matilda’s other reviews here. If YOU would like to send us a book review, check out our submission guidelines. Happy reading!