Over the next few days we are pleased to feature book reviews by some keen readers at Yidarra Catholic Primary School. Our first visitor is Sophie. Over to you, Sophie!
Hide That Horse, by David Metzenthen, illustrated by Leigh Hobbs, ISBN 9780143304494, Puffin Books
Reviewed by Sophie, 9, WA
I read a book called Hide That Horse. It was written by David Metzenthen and illustrated by Leigh Hobbs. I thought it was so funny!
The main characters are Tim, Mr Conroy, and Percy the horse. The story is set in a park, with a great big bridge. Percy is a very small horse so he can hide behind bushes and camouflage with the play equipment. There is also a character called Ranger Dooley. Now, this ranger isn’t a very nice person because she doesn’t allow any farm animals or horses into her park!
I would highly recommend this book to kids between the age of 6 and 10. I personally rate this book 9/10. My favourite part was when Tim had to hide the horse under a branch.
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* Yidarra Catholic Primary School is a member of our Undercover Readers Club. The book reviewed here was Sophie’s own copy.
This is the third book in the Violet Mackerel series. In this book Violet explores her theory of Helping Small Things and helps her sister with her natural science project.
I enjoyed reading about how Violet and her sister Nicola worked together. The illustrations by Sarah Davis are very detailed and help to make sense of the story.
I would recommend this book to girls aged 6+ who enjoy reading stories about children their own age and science.
The hardcover makes it a good present to give friends who also enjoy reading.
I am looking forward to reading more Violet Mackerel books in the future.
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* Eliza is a member of our Undercover Readers Club. A review copy of this book was provided by the publisher.
Prudence Wants a Pet, by Cathleen Daly, ill. Stephen Michael King, ISBN 9781741699654, Scholastic
Reviewed by Whitfield State School, QLD
Students at Whitfield State School recently read Prudence Wants a Pet—a picture book about a little girl who desperately wants a pet but her parents say ‘no’. Could a branch make a good pet? Perhaps a twig … ?
We love this fabulous artwork and writing sent in by some of the students, who are only 6 and 7 years old.
Favourite pages from the book (by Monorom)
The characters in the story (by Summer)
Prudence (by Samantha)
Prudence (by Tabitha)
A favourite page (by Taylah)
Thank you Monorom, Summer, Samantha, Tabitha and Taylah for sharing your artwork and writing with us. Keep up the good work!
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* Whitfield State School is a member of our Undercover Readers Club. A review copy of Prudence Wants a Pet was provided by the publisher.
Look at the fantastic artwork these star students created after reading Mirror by Jeannie Baker! The students also sent in some excellent book reviews, which we’re pleased to share here.
First, some selected remarks from the students:
“Mirror is a book that reflects two different parts of the world.” — Jade
“Even though the two boys in the story look different and speak a different language, they are still the same on the inside.” — Ben
“The book has no words and it opens in two directions, with each boy’s life on each side. Jeannie Baker has collaged the pictures … with manmade and natural materials.” — Jared
“I think this book is suitable for 8 years plus. I really enjoyed this book.” — Sharves
And here is the complete set of the students’ reviews:
This book is one of a kind, it is set out with two stories in a mirror image. Once you see inside you just can’t take your eyes off the book. Jeannie Baker compares two different families in her story, one is from Australia and one is from Africa. The two boys in the story may not look alike, but they are deep inside. They both like to belong to a family.
This book is better than your average book, everyone should read this great collaged picture book. The story links the two families with a special carpet that is made by the mother in Morocco, it turns out that the Australian family buys the exact carpet for their home.
Review by: Jenny (9)
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Mirror is about two boys from very different countries; Sydney Australia and Morocco in Africa. They live a totally different life, they eat different foods and their homes are very different.
One day the father of the Australian family buys a carpet from the “Magic Carpet” shop, the mother of the Morroccan boy had handmade this colourful carpet.
The book has no words and it opens in two directions, with each boy’s life on each side. Jeannie Baker has collaged the pictures in her book with manmade and natural materials.
The book is suitable for 7 years plus. I liked it because of its bright colours. The message in this story is even though people may look different and live different lives, you may still have the same needs and wants on the inside.
Review by: Jared (9)
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This book is about two boy’s lives. It shows the two boys and how they are similar and different at the same time. One boy lives in Australia and one lives in Morocco in North Africa. The book is called Mirror because the boys do the same things, but in different ways.
There are two stories in this book. Jeannie Baker collaged fabric and other materials to make the pictures and then took a photograph of each collaged scene to make it look realistic. She used only pictures to tell her story.
A mat that is made by the boy’s mother in Morocco ends up being bought by the Australian boy’s family.
Jeannie was inspired to make this book after she travelled to Morooco on a holiday. The moral of her story is that people may look different on the outside but can still be very alike on the inside. I think this book is suitable for 8 years plus. I really enjoyed this book, it was great.
Reviewed by: Sharves (8)
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Mirror is a book about two families in two different countries. There are two sides to the book telling what the families do at the same time. They both did different things. One family lives in Australia and one lives in Morocco. They dress differently and eat different things. I liked the book, because it has pictures and no words. Jeannie Baker was inspired by going to Morocco and meeting a very friendly stranger. One day the Moroccan family’s mother made a carpet and the Australian family bought it. Jeannie Baker collaged the pictures and then took photos of them to tell her story.
Review by: Rachel (8)
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Mirror is a book about two boys and two families who live in Sydney and Morocco. These two families look very different and they do things very differently.
One day the family from Sydney buys a rug from a carpet shop that the other family’s mother had made. Jeannie Baker has collaged all the pictures in the book, she has made them look real by using real materials.
The moral of this story is that even though you may look different, you can still have the same values on the inside. I loved this book, because it was in pictures and you could feel that the book was very special. It is suitable for ages 8 plus.
Review by: Jerrica (9)
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Mirror is about two boys in two different families and in two different countries. The first family lives in Sydney, Australia and the other family lives in Morocco in North Africa.
One day the dad of the Australian family went to a carpet place and bought a rug that the Moroccan family had made. Even though the two boys in the story look different and speak a different language, they are still the same on the inside.
This book is suitable for ages 5 to 13.
Review by: Ben (9)
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Mirror is about two families from different countries and how they live very differently, but they have some things that connect them to each other. The two countries are Australia and Morocco. It was amazing how Jeannie Baker made the book. She used different materials to collage the pictures.
The story is about two boys in Morocco and Australia. There is a carpet in the story, the family in Morocco made this carpet and the carpet was then sent to Australia, the Australian family bought it. Jeannie Baker was inspired to make this book by visiting Morocco and meeting nice people there.
Review by: Ethan (8)
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Mirror is a book that reflects two different parts of the world. An Australian and North African family both have a boy, they look very different to each other. The Moroccan mother makes a rug and sends it to Australia to sell, the Australian boy’s family buy it.
Even though the two boys look different, they are the same on the inside. The book has two sides, you can read both sides at the same time.
The moral of the story is that even though someone may look different they can still be the same on the inside and like to belong to a family. Jeannie Baker went to Morocco on a holiday, the trip gave her the ideas to write the book. I really enjoyed the book, it was excellent.
Review by: Jade (8)
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* Winthrop Primary School is a member of our Undercover Readers Club. A review copy of Mirror was provided by the publisher.
The book Button Boy was written and illustrated by Rebecca Young and Sue deGennaro. Button Boy is a fabulous book because it is about being helpful.
Button Boy is about a little boy called Banjo who loves to collect buttons. His grandma sews the buttons onto his jumper. Every day when he’s on his way to school he finds someone who has a missing button and he gives them one. Finally, he has only one button left. Banjo is a kind and giving boy.
We like the book because the pictures are very funny. The best thing about Button Boy is that the main character is a kind little boy. People who like collecting things would like this book. It would be good for boys or girls aged 5 to 8.
You should go and get this book now! It is great.
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* Year 2 at Yidarra Catholic Primary School is a member of our Undercover Readers Club. A review copy of Button Boy was provided by the publisher.
Darius Bell and the Glitter Pool, by Odo Hirsch, ISBN 9781741757163, Allen & Unwin.
Reviewed by Year 5 students at Duncraig Primary School.*
Darius is worried. Time is running out. Will he and his family ever decide upon this generation’s Bell Gift from the family to the town so they can retain the family house and name? When he and his friends find a mysterious glittering pool in the grounds of the house they wonder if it might provide an answer.
This imaginative book will appeal to some tween readers but does not work as a read aloud book as the detail slows the plot. Quirky, well-developed characters carry the story. Our class thinks it would help retain interest if the author moved between locations and plot lines more frequently. We enjoyed the unexpected plot turns and the overall quest structure.
This acclaimed author has written the much-loved Hazel Green series and others such as Amelia Dee and the Peacock Lamp.
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*Duncraig Primary School is a member of our Undercover Readers Club. A review copy of Darius Bell and the Glitter Pool was provided by the publisher.
Evangeline: The Wish Keeper’s Helper, by Maggie Alderson, ill. Claire Fletcher, ISBN 9780670075355, Viking (Penguin Group Australia).
Reviewed by Philippa, age 9 ½ .*
Evangeline the toy elephant lives a life under the bed of her child, who now no longer plays with her. Evangeline only comes out when she is pushed out by the lady who comes to clean and vacuum every week. But when she is transported Upstairs, she experiences a whole new life, meets lots of new friends and is even selected to help the wish keeper directly to grant wishes. One by one, the toys all get selected for a special job helping to keep the hope in wishes, until Evangeline is the only one left. Will Evangeline’s wish be granted?
This is a chapter book. The writer paints the pictures in your head, and when you turn a page to a colourful illustration, they are just right!
Children aged 7 to 12 would love this amazing story.
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*Philippa is a member of our Undercover Readers Club. A review copy of Evangeline: The Wish Keeper’s Helper was provided by the publisher.
Where There’s Smoke, by John Heffernan, ISBN 9781862918665, Omibus Books.
Reviewed by Harry, age 11, Beaconsfield Primary School.*
This book is great if you love stories which are based on Black Saturday’s bushfires and even still it’s great for adventure lovers.
Luke and Sarah have arrived at a small town called Edenville. Luke has already had a fight with someone, which isn’t surprising because he’s had fights before at other places. Luke’s friend Tiny had lived in a small town in Russia which had been invaded by Russian troops, so he went to live somewhere else. Tiny has a big heart and predicted that a fire will happen but no-one believed him.
This is such an emotional book it just brings you in. Every chapter makes you want to read more because it leaves a question waiting to be answered. The characters are good because you’ve got all variety like: mean people like Brian, kind-hearted people like Tiny, and just ordinary people like Luke.
I recommend Where There’s Smoke for any gender and for people over nine years of age. I personally rate this book 4 out of 5 stars.
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*Beaconsfield Primary School is a member of our Undercover Readers Club. A review copy of Where There’s Smoke was provided by the publisher.
Where There’s Smoke, by John Heffernan, ISBN 9781862918665, Omibus Books.
Reviewed by Tyler, age 11, Beaconsfield Primary School.*
Recently my class read a book called Where There’s Smoke. This book is written by John Heffernan and shows you all the qualities you need to live a happy life.
Where There’s Smoke tells the story of a family living in a small town called Edenville where they are on the run from their father and husband. Luke is a regular boy, about twelve years of age, who has a friend named Tiny who is really tall and has a heart as strong as a tiger. Tiny pretends to be Nina’s—Luke’s mum’s—boyfriend so that Nina’s ex husband doesn’t follow or hurt them. When everything seemd to be cruising around well Tiny, who is Russian, gets a bit worried about a bushfire coming. The fire came and it didn’t want to leave. Some people left and some people stayed and fought. Tiny saved a boy and got third degree burns. When everything seemed to be a disaster Luke finally got something he’d waited for, a call.
This book is great and each chapter gives you a thrill of adrenalin and wants you to read more. It is emotional and very descriptive using metaphors and similes that would blow your mind. I hope to be reading more from Mr Heffernan soon.
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*Beaconsfield Primary School is a member of our Undercover Readers Club. A review copy of Where There’s Smoke was provided by the publisher.
Where There’s Smoke, by John Heffernan, ISBN 9781862918665, Omibus Books.
Reviewed by Alexandra, age 10, Beaconsfield Primary School.*
For the last few weeks, our class has been reading Where There’s Smoke, by John Heffernan. All or most of the class really enjoyed it.
Where There’s Smoke is about a boy called Luke and his mum, Nina. They had been running away from Luke’s dad until a friend of Nina’s (Tiny Cob) told them about Edenville, the place that becomes their new, safe home. In Edenville Luke makes friends with Sarah and develops a very close friendship with Tiny Cob. But when a bushfire comes, how can Luke help the town of Edenville? The place that he now calls his home.
This book was a great book that I really enjoyed. I think it made me understand things like: The house is the place that people live in, the home is the people that live in it. Where There’s Smoke also is an adventurous story as well as the type of book that helps you learn things.
All together I think that Where There’s Smoke is a wonderful book for all ages, out of ten I would rate it nine and my standard is very high. I would like to read another one of John Heffernan’s books one day.
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*Beaconsfield Primary School is a member of our Undercover Readers Club. A review copy of Where There’s Smoke was provided by the publisher.
* Yidarra Catholic Primary School is a member of our Undercover Readers Club. The book reviewed here was Sophie’s own copy.
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