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Book review: Total Quack Up Again

Posted on October 30, 2019October 28, 2019 by Alphabet Soup

REVIEWED BY JANE, 7, WA

Total Quack Up Again, Edited by Sally Rippin and Adrian Beck, illustrated by Jules Faber, Penguin Australia, ISBN 9781760893583

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

Total Quack Up Again is a collection of funny short stories. I really like it. It makes me laugh. It was hard to pick a favourite story, they are all so good. One of my favourites was ‘Clean The Car’ by Kim Kane — it’s hard for me to read it out loud because I’m laughing so hard. This is one of my favourite parts (pp 111-112) in ‘Clean The Car’:

‘What’s that?’ (Mumma-Sue) pointed to a small tree, which had sprouted in the leaves composting under Tom’s booster seat.

Mumma-Jacq bent down to pick it up. ‘It’s a small tree,’ she said.

‘I can see that.’ Mumma-Sue rolled her eyes.

‘Possibly a fig or a plum.’ Mumma-Jacq examined a tiny green leaf.

‘Well, that’s terrific. But what’s it doing sprouting in the back seat of the car?’ Mumma-Sue tried not to yell. She was not successful.

I think lots of people will like this book, including adults.

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

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Young Writers in Action: Into the Mist

Posted on October 28, 2019July 25, 2025 by Alphabet Soup

INTO THE MIST
by Maya, 11, Bowral Public School, NSW

A tree in mist, photo from pexels.com I always wondered what the mist could do, I wonder if it could fly high or create images, too. Could it be a theme park or could it be an adventure to a brand new world? Today was a really misty day in Bugs-worth. You couldn’t see the foot path, nor could you see our plain sky. The day was very different to our wonderful sunny days.

The birds weren’t coming out of the trees and everyone’s furry little friends didn’t want to come and play. None of the children wanted to come outside. It was very unusual, all the children would play in their front yards.

I decided to go and have a look to see what was going on and then I realised I was walking on water. I didn’t know who or what created the mist but they would pay. I kept on walking and I finally found what was creating the mist. It was a giant mist monster.

I wonder what will destroy the mist monster, probably not bird droppings, not water but maybe a sweet lullaby? Nothing will work, I might have to try something different. I decided to shine a light on the monster.

It finally decided to disappear and go put some more mist on another place or country. When I eventually got back to my home the whole place was covered in filthy bugs and rubbish. It looks like the next hour of the day will be cleaning up. After a while all the children and animals in Bugs-worth were all out and playing around.

The world will never know the name of the person who saved the whole world from the beast. I am the saviour of the world and no one can do it ever again.

We’ve been sharing writing from students at Bowral Public School over the past few days. If you’d like to send us YOUR book review, story, poem or artwork, check out our submission guidelines.

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Young writers in action: Toby

Posted on October 25, 2019July 25, 2025 by Alphabet Soup

TOBY
by Meg, Year 5/6, Bowral Public School, NSW

It was such a miserable day. If you add up all of the miserableness in the world and then times it by the weight of the world, the day was still more miserable. It was rainy, but at the same time, it was hot and humid so it was worse being inside than out. Toby was trapped inside The Great Tree of Woof. He had all of his other doggy friends, of course, but Toby had cabin fever and he wanted to go outside, desperately.

The problem was though, The Great Tree of Woof was being rather inconvenient. It had this terrible habit of making all of the doors too small when it was raining. Yes, to you and me this seems like a good idea because if all of those dogs went outside into the rain then they would come back muddy and disgusting. But for Toby, it was unbearable.

Toby was starting to hallucinate. He was certain that he saw Felix, the smallest dog at The Great Tree of Woof, waltzing upside down on the ceiling. This was getting ridiculous. Toby HAD to get out.

Dog snout at night. photo courtesy pexels.com Toby had to just make do for now and only stick out his snout. It was better than nothing.

Rain splattered down on Toby’s nose. It was nice and refreshing. The memories of when he was a puppy came back to him. How he could sneak out because he was so small. Toby wished that he was still that small. The rain drops became bigger and Toby started to feel drowsy.

As he lay down thunder rumbled up ahead. He wasn’t going to be able to sleep for long. When the thunder started he, being the oldest and wisest dog there, had to calm all of the puppies down.

Toby wriggled to get comfy and drifted off to sleep.

We will be sharing writing from students at Bowral Public School over the next few days. If you’d like to send us YOUR book review, story, poem or artwork, check out our submission guidelines.

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Young writers in action: Life of a Rotten Potato

Posted on October 23, 2019July 25, 2025 by Alphabet Soup

LIFE OF A ROTTEN POTATO
by Angus, 10, Bowral Public School

Potatoes dug up from the garden. Image courtesy of pexels.com Hello there, I’m a potato. Today I’m going to tell you how the life of a rotten potato works. At the start of my life I was stuck under this icky brown stuff, I was under there for weeks until a human finally pulled me out. That was the first time I met my family. My brother’s name was Spud, my mum’s name was Beryl and my dad’s name was Mark. My brother always teased me and said that I was rotten. I felt left out all the time because all my friends ditched me when they found out I was rotten. I asked Mum and Dad if I was rotten. They said I wasn’t, but I knew they were saying that to be nice.

The next stage of my life was being cleaned. It was one of the most horrible things that had happened to me ever. My second cousin drowned. His name was Fred, it was really quite sad. When I had to be washed I was exited I thought the mould and stuff would come off but it didn’t, it was horrible.

The third stage was being cut up, this was usually the end of a potato’s life — but I was rotten so they didn’t cut me up into little bits, they just threw me in the trash. I was super sad for the next few days because my mum, dad and brother got cooked and eaten. I was lonely in the garbage. The only thing to talk to was a mouldy banana named Rick. He said the same sort of thing happened to his family except they just got eaten not cooked. The next day the evil humans put all the garbage into one big metal bin with all the dead foods that nobody had eaten.

There was a mandarin that nobody had eaten. I said he was lucky he was alive, but then he said he was inhabited by worms. Sadly Rick the banana didn’t make it, he fell out of the bin and got stepped on and he got splattered everywhere it was disgusting. When we were first put into the metal bin we got put on a truck and got driven to a place called the tip. There were so many other foods that were still alive. My best friend became a brussels sprout named Rick, just like my friend Rick the banana but we do not speak of Rick the banana any more. After six months in the tip at night, I was laying looking up at the stars thinking about my family and friends, how they died. I thought that I should stop thinking about them and think about how I made new friends and how I’m still alive today instead of thinking about all the bad things in life like being rotten. That night I went to sleep a happy potato and I lived out the rest of my life as one. And that is the life of a rotten potato.

We will be sharing writing from students at Bowral Public School over the next few days. If you’d like to send us YOUR book review, story, poem or artwork, check out our submission guidelines.

Book reviews by kids, Oxley Christian College

Book review: The Feather

Posted on October 21, 2019October 6, 2019 by Alphabet Soup

REVIEWED BY ELIZABETH, 9, VIC

The Feather by Margaret Wild and Freya Blackwood, Hardie Grant Egmont, ISBN 9781760124212

Elizabeth reviewed a school copy of this book.

The Feather, written by Margaret Wild, is a story about compassion, kindness and more importantly, about having freedom to be yourself. The characters, Maria and Nico, discover an extraordinarily bright feather floating through the gloomy sky. It brightened up everything it went near. It was such a precious treasure that all the village people wanted to keep it behind glass. Suddenly it started turning a muddy brown and the folk turned their back on it, except for Maria and Nico.

Freya Blackwood has used rough black pencil outlines and water colours to blend and capture the mood of this story. I recommend this book for 5-year-olds and above.

A wondrous book!

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: The Mediterranean

Posted on October 18, 2019October 6, 2019 by Alphabet Soup

REVIEWED BY RACHEL, 9, VIC

The Mediterranean by Armin Greder, Allen and Unwin, ISBN 9781760630959

****NB: The publisher recommends this book for readers aged 12 to 16.*****

Rachel reviewed a school copy of this book.

Armid Greder found it necessary to write a historical fiction about the plight of refugees. The Mediterranean is the sea between Libya and Sicily. Over twenty years ago, three hundred Pakistani and Sri Lankan refugees tried to make it across. They were all trying to get away from the war, a tough time for all.

This story is emotive with only seventeen words and pictures that tell it all! Even though this is a picture book I totally recommend it for twelve years and above because of the powerful and confronting topic and illustrations. We saw only parts of the book with our teacher, it was very sad but when we learn about the past we can learn from it for the future.

Book reviews by kids, Oxley Christian College

Book review: Cicada

Posted on October 16, 2019October 6, 2019 by Alphabet Soup

REVIEWED BY CINDY (8) and WEYLEN (9), VIC

Cicada by Shaun Tan, Hachette Australia,
ISBN 9780734418630

Cindy and Weylen reviewed a school copy of this book.

This riveting story by award winning author, Shaun Tan is about an office worker as a cicada, wearing a business suit! This makes the reader feel a little puzzled and surprised. A cicada in real life is an insect that goes unnoticed for two to seventeen years when it burrows underground and actively feeds on roots below. It comes out only when it decides to change into an adult and fly away.

It is set in a big city with offices where some workers don’t feel they are getting treated fairly like everyone else. They work tirelessly. It’s only until retirement that they can relax and start fresh with freedom to do what they want, whenever they want! Tok. Tok. Tok.

This book is for 6-year-olds to adults. It’s a must-read because the detailed pictures tell about how Cicada feels. We felt heart-warmed by this spectacular book.

Book reviews by kids, Oxley Christian College

Book review: Girl on Wire

Posted on October 14, 2019October 14, 2019 by Alphabet Soup

REVIEWED BY JONATHAN (9) &
OLIVIA (9), VIC

Girl on Wire by Lucy Estela, illustrated by Elise Hurst, Penguin Books Australia,
ISBN 9780143787167

Jonathan & Olivia reviewed a school copy of this book.

Girl on Wire, written by Lucy Estela and illustrated by Elise Hurst, is a simple but encouraging story. It’s about a troubled girl that has obstacles before her. The tension builds and her fear grows and grows in her mind. She is urged to move forward and to be courageous on her own. Will she make it?

The illustrations are beautiful and expressive. Look closer at the vibrant paintings for they have hidden images that add a deeper meaning. A must-read for anybody who thinks they need courage and can’t do things. Age appropriate for 6-year-olds and above.

Book reviews by kids, Oxley Christian College

Book review: The All New Must Have Orange 430

Posted on October 11, 2019October 6, 2019 by Alphabet Soup

REVIEWED BY ELVIN, 9, VIC

The All New Must Have Orange 430 by Michael Speechley, Penguin Books Australia, ISBN 9780143788973

Elvin reviewed a school copy of this book.

Yes! It’s finally here! This is a story about Harvey, like every other boy and girl, that wanted the all new Orange 430. Unfortunately, when he tore open the box, he realises that it was actually USELESS. He was ripped off!

A message for children out there to be very careful of what you buy and why you buy it. The illustrations are packed with humour and it’s hard to see everything when you first read it. Recommended for 7+.

Make sure you don’t miss reading this book.

Book reviews by kids, Oxley Christian College

Book review: Chalk Boy

Posted on October 9, 2019October 6, 2019 by Alphabet Soup

REVIEWED BY CHARLIE, 9, VIC

Chalk Boy by Margaret Wild, illustrated by Mandy Ord, A&U Children’s,
ISBN 9781760630683

Charlie reviewed a school copy of this book.

Barnaby, a pavement artist from the streets of Melbourne, started to draw Chalk Boy. He told him how, when it rains he will be no longer! Chalk Boy decides not to be sad and to have fun while he can. Does Barnaby save Chalk Boy when it begins to rain?

This book shows the characters having courage, compassion and kindness. I recommend it for 5+ year olds. Read and see the street art as the story unfolds.