Posted in Book reviews by kids, Oxley Christian College

Book review: Snail and Turtle are Friends

Posted on by Alphabet Soup

REVIEWED BY CHARLOTTE, 9, VIC

Snail and Turtle are friends (cover)

Snail and Turtle are Friends by Stephen Michael King, Scholastic Australia, ISBN 9781743620236

Charlotte read a copy of this book in her school library.

Snail and Turtle are Friends opens with the greeting:

Good morning Snail, Good morning Turtle.

Set outside in both the garden and open space, this story shows us that friends can be different, but still have fun.

The cover illustration is colourful. It caught my interest and made me wonder. This book is for ages 3+ because it is short, easy to read and very colourful.

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Charlotte attends Oxley Christian College and this is her first book review for Alphabet Soup. If you’d like to read more book reviews by Oxley Christian College students, 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!

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TOP READS: October 2015

Posted on by Alphabet Soup

It’s the last day of October, and we’re on the home stretch to the end of the year! The last day of the month means — of course — it’s time to share our Top Readers’ recommended reads. These are books the team enjoyed most during October.

Joseph recommends THE WORD SPY by Ursula Dubosarsky, illustrated by Tohby Riddle.
Matilda recommends the audiobook THE TALE OF DESPEREAUX by Kate di Camillo, read by Graeme Malcolm.
Celine recommends NOW by Morris Gleitzman.
Tess recommends THE ICICLE ILLUMINARIUM by NJ Gemmell.
Veronica recommends NEARLY IMPOSSIBLE DREAMS by Tara Finn.
Jake recommends ZITA THE SPACEGIRL by Ben Hatke.

You’ll find a recommended list from our Top Reading Team* on the last day of every month. If you missed last month’s, don’t forget to check out the September 2015 Top Reads.

*All our Top Readers are kids aged 13 and under. No grownups allowed!

Posted in Book reviews by kids, Oxley Christian College

Book review: Hello from Nowhere

Posted on by Alphabet Soup

REVIEWED BY BEN, 9, VIC

Hello from Nowhere (cover)

Hello from Nowhere by Raewyn Caisley, illustrated by Karen Blair, Penguin Books Australia, ISBN 9780670075003

Ben read a copy of this book in his school library.

The story is set in Nowhere in the Australian outback. Nowhere is no longer a real place. Eve thought that living in the middle of Nowhere was better than living anywhere else in the world. However, she misses one thing, her Nan. But Eve has an idea. Will it work or will she be stuck with Dad, Brian the seagull, Livestock the lazy cat and Bluey the blue tongue lizard forever?

It’s an amazing story. The watercolour and pencil drawings really match the desert theme. This book shows us that we don’t always want to be alone. This book made me feel tense wondering how Eve’s idea would be put together.

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Ben attends Oxley Christian College and this is his first book review for Alphabet Soup. If you’d like to read more book reviews by Oxley Christian College students, 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!

Posted in Book reviews by kids, Oxley Christian College

Book review: The Soldier’s Gift

Posted on by Alphabet Soup

REVIEWED BY ATLANTA, 9, VIC

The soldier's gift)

The Soldier’s Gift by Tony Palmer, illustrated by Jane Tanner, Penguin Books Australia, ISBN 9780670077571

Atlanta read a copy of this book in her school library.

The Soldier’s Gift is about a young girl, Emily, who is desperate to do anything to stop her brother, Tom, from going to World War I in Turkey.

She tries her hardest to stop Tom, but when the time comes for Tom to leave the farm, she knows he needs to.

Tom faces the Turks in battle!

What will he write in letters home to his family?

What are his family thinking about while they wait for news?

This book can increase our learning about the Anzacs and life on the home front during a tragic time of war.

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Atlanta attends Oxley Christian College and this is her first book review for Alphabet Soup. If you’d like to read more book reviews by Oxley Christian College students, 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!

Posted in Book reviews by kids, Oxley Christian College

Book review: A House of Her Own

Posted on by Alphabet Soup

REVIEWED BY JOSHUA, 8, VIC

A house of her own (cover)

A House of Her Own by Jenny Hughes, illustrated by Jonathan Bentley, Little Hare Books, ISBN 9781742974620

Joshua read this book in his school library.

Audrey tells Dad that she’s bigger than she was yesterday and that their house is too small. Dad gives her some ideas about relocating to a new house like the garage, the shed and even the chook shed.

Then Audrey finds the perfect place … up a tree. Dad helps to build a treehouse. When it’s finished, she loves it.

Will she ever want to come down? But Audrey has some scary thoughts and worries when her dad returns to their old house for the night.

I like this book because I always wanted to build my own tree house that only I could go into.

I recommend the story for children aged 7+.

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Joshua attends Oxley Christian College and this is his 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!

Posted in Book reviews by kids, Oxley Christian College

Book review: Along the Road to Gundagai

Posted on by Alphabet Soup

REVIEWED BY AIMEE, 9, VIC

Along the road to Gundagai (cover)

Along the road to Gundagai by Jack O’ Hagan, illustrated by Andrew McLean, Omnibus Books, ISBN 9781862919792

Aimee read this book in her school library.

A soldier remembers his home and his home town where his daddy and mother will be waiting for him.

He is yearning just to be returning along the road to Gundagai.

He’s gone off to war, but wants to be a kid at home again.

The pictures, not just the words, tell you some of the story.

This book is suitable for primary grade students from Year 1 to Year 6.

If you like picture books then you would love this book.

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Aimee attends Oxley Christian College and this is her 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!

Posted in Book reviews by kids, Oxley Christian College

Book review: Max

Posted on by Alphabet Soup

REVIEWED BY CHARLIE, 9, VIC

Max (cover)

 

Max by Marc Marten, Penguin Books Australia, ISBN 9780670077434

Charlie read a copy of this book in his school library.

Bob, a fish and chip shop owner, is best friends with Max the seagull.

One day, Max comes to the shop but Bob is not there.

He waits, but when Bob doesn’t come, he flies high into the sky. Eventually, a salty and familiar smell comes over the air and he flies towards it. Does he find Bob?

I recommend this book for 6 year olds because the story is simple and fun to read.

I like it because it’s based on the reality that friends sometimes move away, but still like to reconnect and do what they did before when they meet up. Like Bob, I wouldn’t want my friend going away from me to live somewhere else.

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Charlie attends Oxley Christian College and this is his 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!

Posted in Book reviews by kids, Oxley Christian College

Book review: Emu

Posted on by Alphabet Soup

REVIEWED BY ANTONY, 9, VIC

Emu (cover)

Emu by Claire Saxby, illustrated by Graham Byrne, Walker Books Australia, ISBN: 9781922179708

Antony read a copy of this book in his school library.

Emu is a very interesting combination of fiction and nonfiction. It’s about an emu’s birth and its life. There are lots of fun facts, predators like lizards and adventures like running away from circling eagles.

Did you know that:

emus will only fight if cornered. They will peck with their strong beaks or strike out with their clawed feet.

The story is set in the outback in spring. The main character is a male emu who is protecting his chicks. Will they survive?

The detail and illustrations are mind blowing. Readers will wonder how the illustrator made the drawings so realistic.

I think this is a really astonishing book for children aged 6 and up who want to learn more about emus and their lifestyle in a fun way.

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Antony attends Oxley Christian College and this is his 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!

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Check out more reviews of Emu in earlier posts.

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TOP READS (September 2015)

Posted on by Alphabet Soup

Here we are at the end of the month again, and most of you are now on school holidays (hooray!). That means it’s time for some book recommendations from our Top Reading team:

Xavier recommends A DOSE OF DR DOG by Babette Cole.
Tess recommends THE SOUND OF WHALES by Kerr Thompson.
Joseph recommends DOUBTING THOMAS by Morris Gleitzman.
Celine recommends THE DARING ESCAPE OF BEATRICE AND PEABODY by Kimberly Fusco.
Veronica recommends THE FACELESS ONES (Skulduggery Pleasant Book 3) by Derek Landy.

You’ll find a recommended list from our Top Reading Team* on the last day of every month. If you missed last month’s, don’t forget to check out the August 2015 Top Reads.

*All our Top Readers are kids aged 13 and under. No grownups allowed!

Posted in Book reviews by Joseph, Book reviews by kids

Book review: Adam Spencer’s Big Book of Numbers

Posted on by Alphabet Soup

REVIEWED BY JOSEPH, 11, WA

Adam Spencer's big book of numbers

Adam Spencer’s Big Book of Numbers: Everything you wanted to know about the numbers 1 to 100 by Adam Spencer, Xoum Publishing, ISBN 9781921134326.

Joseph reviewed his own copy of this book.

Do you know what a narcissistic number is? Or a Leyland Prime? Or a Cunningham Chain? These are three number concepts that you’ve probably never heard about before and they are explained in this book.

When I first saw this book I thought it would be way too complicated and I wouldn’t be able to understand any of it but Adam Spencer turns out to be a very chatty writer. And so this book is very easy to enjoy and it is not like a textbook.

Inside you will find detailed facts about the numbers 1 to 100 with some quiz questions/activities along the way. The 5X5 magic squares were my favourite because I found them challenging but do-able and satisfying to finish.

Anybody aged 10+ would love this book. It doesn’t matter if you are good at maths or not, it’s informative and interesting.

If you can’t sleep at night, reading this book is better than counting sheep.

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Joseph is one of our regular book reviewers. His most recent review (if you don’t count this one) was of Sister Heart. If YOU would like to send us a book review, check out our submission guidelines. Happy reading!