Category: Book reviews by kids

Posted in Book reviews by kids

Book review: Ella and the Amazing Frog Orchestra

Posted on by Alphabet Soup
Ella and the Amazing Frog Orchestra by Cassy Polimeni, illustrated by Hykie Breeze

Ella and the Amazing Frog Orchestra by Cassy Polimeni, illustrated by Hykie Breeze, UWA Publishing, ISBN 9781760802899

REVIEWED BY ELLA, 9, WA

The publisher provided a review copy of this book.

Ella and the Amazing Frog Orchestra is a fiction book with lots of facts about frogs. The story is about Ella, who moves house and finds frogs near her new home.

I really liked the author’s descriptions of all the details in the book, and all the onomatopoeia, that made me feel like I was actually there. I thought Ella was a fun and likeable main character. The illustrations were really good, I just wish they had more colour in the book. 

I think that anyone aged 5-9 would enjoy this book. Anyone who likes frogs or wants to learn about frogs, would love this book. 

I loved this book!

Read Alphabet Soup’s interview with the author

This is Ella’s first book review for Alphabet Soup. To send us YOUR book review, read our submission guidelines. Happy reading!

Posted in Book reviews by Aashi, Book reviews by kids

Book review: Crunch

Posted on by Alphabet Soup

Crunch by Kayla Miller, Walker Books Australia, ISBN 9781760655181

REVIEWED BY AASHI, 10, VIC

Aashi reviewed her own copy of this book.

I recently read Crunch and I LOVED it! It is a must read for any avid readers from the age 8 to 12. This graphic novel is part of the Click series. The whole Click series is about Olive, a smart and kind sixth grader.

Olive loves to try new things with a positive attitude, so she signs up for many things. Between film making, homework, scouts and even a fashion show, Olive feels overwhelmed. Olive begins to wonder if she really can juggle all of her actives or will she fail at everything?

One of the best things about Crunch is the pictures. They are full of colour and pop. It makes you want to keep reading. The pictures look really good and make you feel like you are in the book.

Olive is not perfect, no-one is, and this made me really like her. She is really brave and outgoing. By the end of the book she learns how to say No and how to juggle her life.

I think that anyone who loves friendship and school stories will enjoy Crunch. Be sure to check out the rest of the Click series.

Happy Reading!

Take a look inside Crunch.

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 Aashi, Book reviews by kids

Book review: Act

Posted on by Alphabet Soup
The cover of Act by Kayla Miller

Act by Kayla Miller, Walker Books Australia, ISBN 9781760654931

REVIEWED BY AASHI, 10, VIC

Aashi reviewed her own copy of this title.

You should always stand up for what you believe, right? Olive thinks that it is unfair that kids have to miss out on field trips just because they are expensive. She knows she has to fix this problem but she doesn’t know how.

Olive knows she has to act and change the problem (this is why the book is called Act). She decides to run for the school council. She works really hard and makes really cool posters, speeches and talks to her peers about why the problem matters.

Olive is running against two of her best friends. She did not tell them that she was going to run and they felt betrayed. This makes things awkward between her friends and she gets discouraged but does not stop trying.

I really liked Act because it shows you that you do not have to be an adult to lead. You may be a child but you have a powerful voice that you can use. It also shows perseverance and determination.

I would rate the book 5 out of 5 stars. It is so good and is suitable for all young readers between the ages 9 to 13.

I hope you enjoy the book!

Read some sample pages of Act.

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.

Posted in Book reviews by Aashi, Book reviews by kids

Book review: Funny Kid Belly Flop

Posted on by Alphabet Soup
The cover of a children's novel: Belly Flop by Matt Stanton

Funny Kid: Belly Flop by Matt Stanton, HarperCollins Publishers, ISBN 9780733340604

REVIEWED BY AASHI, 10, VIC

Aashi reviewed her own copy of this book.

Meet Max, a professional prankster. He is always trying to make people laugh and have a blast. This means he gets in trouble a lot.

Max is on another adventure where he is going to the Red Hill Pool for swimming lessons. Max does not think it is fair that he has to be in his undies in front of his whole class while jumping into a pool.

Max’s enemy, Abby, is up to no good. She fakes notes to get her out of swimming, which is completely unfair. Finally, Max has had enough and challenges Abby to a hard competition.

Belly Flop is a funny book with lots of jokes. It made me laugh so hard. This is a book suitable for ages eight to ten. It is best for people who love humour and friendship.

If you have read David Walliams books including Gangsta Granny, World’s Worst Parents and World’s Worst Children, then you will love Belly Flop. All these books include humour, exaggeration and friendship.

Happy Reading!

Read a few pages from Funny Kid: Belly Flop.

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 Aashi, Book reviews by kids

Book review: Thea Stilton and the Chocolate Sabotage

Posted on by Alphabet Soup

Thea Stilton and the Chocolate Sabotage by Elisabetta Dami, Scholastic, ISBN 9780545646567

REVIEWED BY AASHI, 10 VIC

Aashi reviewed her own copy of this book.

The Thea Sisters set off on an adventure to Ecuador. They are visiting Paulina’s old friend, Antonio, who runs a chocolate factory. He runs Choco Loco with his cousin Hector. 

Choco Loco is in the running for the Chocolate Cup award. The award is very prestigious so the competition is tough. Out of the blue there are multiple malfunctions in the factory. The Thea Sisters start to wonder if it is sabotage. Join them to solve the case.

The book is full of interesting and exciting scenes. Every Thea Sister is good and loves different things and together they are unstoppable. Colette loves fashion and is great at designing clothes. Violet is shy but so smart and great at classical arts. Pamela is talented at mechanics and cooking, she loves eating. Pauline likes technology and loves travelling. Nicky is enthusiastic about sports and fitness.

My favourite character is Violet because even though she is shy on the outside, in the inside she has such cool ideas and is so talented at many things.

Thea Stilton and The Chocolate Sabotage is a good fit for people who want to solve a mystery. You will definitely enjoy it if you enjoyed Sherlock Holmes. If you get stuck trying to solve the mystery, there are clues to help you.

I recommend the book for people aged seven to ten as it has some tricky words but lots of colourful pictures to illustrate it. I rate it 4 out of 5 stars as it could have had some clearer explanations.

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 Aashi, Book reviews by kids

Book review: The Secret of the Stone

Posted on by Alphabet Soup

The Secret of the Stone by Kathryn Lefroy, Fremantle Press, ISBN 9781760994648

REVIEWED BY AASHI, 10, VIC

The publisher provided a review copy of this book.

The Secret of the Stone is an exciting book about adventure and loyalty, packed with surprises. When Olive and her friends discover a mysterious stone, they realise it has the power to grant wishes. They know that they should use it for good purposes. However, they can’t resist having a little fun with it first!

Since the stone is so powerful and magical, other people with malicious intentions want to possess it. Olive and her friends must protect the stone no matter what. 

I really liked Olive who was always kind and sympathetic to her friends. She was a good friend who tried her best at everything.

This book is great for people who liked the books Keeper of The Lost Cities or The Sugarcane Kids and the Empty Cage. Kathryn Lefroy used lots of exciting vocabulary and great imagery.

The book is amazing as it teaches you about loyalty and friendship. The book is suitable for ages eight to ten. I recommend the book to anyone who loves adventure and excitement. 

Read the first few pages of The Secret of the Stone.

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 kids, Book reviews by Marley

Book review: Bigfoot vs Yeti

Posted on by Alphabet Soup
The cover of a picture book: Bigfoot vs Yeti by James Foley

Bigfoot vs Yeti by James Foley, Fremantle Press, ISBN 9781760994983

REVIEWED BY MARLEY, 9, PALMYRA PRIMARY SCHOOL, WA

The publisher provided a review copy of this book.

Bigfoot vs Yeti is about a Yeti and a Bigfoot and how there was a great big mist and rift between their two colonies. The two colonies always hated each other because they didn’t know anything about each other and were trying to protect themselves from what they didn’t understand, and because they couldn’t see them. One night a bigfoot and a yeti were on the edge of the rift on watch duty and they both had the exact same thought at the exact same time, that they wanted to be face to face and put an end to the rift. Back at home, their colonies were in a fight because they thought the other colony were responsible for each other’s lost bigfoot and yeti. While they were fighting, the bigfoot and the yeti were talking to each other and getting to know each other …

Bigfoot vs Yeti is a picture book, but it’s not like other picture books I’ve read. It’s black and white at the beginning and towards the end a little more colour starts to show. I enjoyed this book because it’s different and at the end you get to see the interesting ending (which I won’t give away). I really liked all the illustrations and they pulled the whole book together. 

I think kids of all ages would enjoy it.

I think more than bigfoot and yeti, this book also means to not be afraid to show who you are, and that not everything you don’t know or understand is harmful.

Take a peek inside Bigfoot vs Yeti.

Marley is a regular book reviewer for Alphabet Soup. You can read her earlier review (of The Vanishing) here. To send us YOUR book review, read our submission guidelines.

Happy reading!

Posted in Book reviews by Elizabeth, Book reviews by kids

Book review, 11 Ruby Road: 1900

Posted on by Alphabet Soup

11 Ruby Road: 1900 by Charlotte Barkla, Walker Books Australia, ISBN 9781760657949

REVIEWED BY ELIZABETH, 12, NSW

Elizabeth received a review copy of this book.

Dorothy raised the key to the lock, but the door creaked open before she could insert it. 

When ten-year-old Dorothy opened the door to her new home, she also opened the door to a new adventure at 11 Ruby Road. Dorothy insisted to everyone that the door opened by itself which made her feel curious, but no one in the family seemed to pay attention. She had a vivid imagination and was always noticing minor details.

This book is about Dorothy and her family moving from a farm to the city, Brisbane, also known as the new Sydney. Starting school, Dorothy already knew it was not going to be easy. Will she enjoy her new life there?

I am impressed that Dorothy is determined and tenacious. She is an inspiring person to me because she is always eager to share what is right and to include others.  I rate this book 10 out of 10 because it grabs my attention and is thought provoking. This book shows how much a little 10-year-old can do.

This is Book 1 in a historical fiction series with Walker Books Australia.

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

Posted in Book reviews by Aashi, Book reviews by kids

Book review: The Sugarcane Kids and the Empty Cage

Posted on by Alphabet Soup
The cover of The Sugarcane Kids and the Empty Cage

The Sugarcane Kids and the Empty Cage by Charlie Archbold, Text Publishing, ISBN 9781922790996

REVIEWED BY AASHI, 10, VIC

The publisher provided a review copy of this book.

The Sugarcane Kids face a crisis: animals are mysteriously disappearing all over town, including Gloria, a beloved pet. Although the kids have their suspicions, the adults refuse to listen. It’s time for the kids to take matters into their own hands and embark on an adventure to solve the mystery.

The Sugarcane Kids and The Empty Cage is not just a story about solving a mystery; it’s a narrative that encourages young readers to take action, work together, and approach challenges with a growth mindset. This heartwarming tale will leave readers with smiles and a sense of hope that echoes long after they turn the final page. It’s a must-read for any young adventurer at heart!

The book is perfect for kids between 7 and 10 years old. I hope you get a chance to read this great story.

Happy Reading!

Read our earlier interview with the author.

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 kids, Book reviews by Marley

Book review: The Vanishing

Posted on by Alphabet Soup
The cover of a children's nonfiction novel: The Vanishing by Mark Greenwood.

The Vanishing by Mark Greenwood, Fremantle Press, ISBN 9781760993962

REVIEWED BY MARLEY, 9, PALMYRA PRIMARY SCHOOL, WA

The publisher provided a review copy of this book.

The Vanishing is a non fiction mystery book about Frederick Valentich going missing in his aircraft. He was a very kind person and his life was going very well for him and he was persistent and dedicated to becoming a pilot. One evening Frederick was meant to fly over Bass Strait but he and his plane vanished after he said he saw a UFO. He described it over the radio in his eerie last transmission as being ‘not an aircraft’.

People have lots of different theories about him going missing. One of them is being abducted by aliens, but his partner, Rhonda, says that he told her he would never board a UFO without her. Another theory is that he crashed into the water, but none of his aircraft pieces were found. There was also a photographer who took a picture that night of the sunset, where Frederick was flying, and it looks like a UFO hovering over his aircraft. 

I really enjoyed this book as there was so much information and investigation, and the story itself was really interesting. The cover is also really inviting – if I had seen this cover at the library I would have chosen it. This is the first investigative book I have read and it was a great experience getting to learn about the case and that it actually happened.

I think this book should be for nine or ten years and up because some of the words are really big and hard to read. I think anyone interested in mysteries and cold cases and the paranormal would enjoy this book very much.

Read a few pages of The Vanishing.

This is Marley’s first book review for Alphabet Soup. To send us YOUR book review, read our submission guidelines. Happy reading!