Today is International Book Giving Day (and Valentine’s Day — but we’re all about the books!). We’ll be donating books today and our editor will be giving books to family and friends.
If you plan on giving a book to someone (or leaving a book in a waiting room or lobby) you might like to include this cool IBGD bookmark inside the book. It’s free to download and print it.
Happy International Book Giving Day!
Details:
Meet author Aleesah Darlison!
Saturday 22 February 2014 at Westbooks, 396 Mill Point Rd, Victoria Park WA 6100.
9.30am bubs to 4 year olds — an exciting Where’s Wally hunt and readings from some great picture books by Aleesah Darlison (Puggle’s Problem, Bearly There and Warambi). Morning tea provided.
11am 7 to 12 year olds — Where’s Wally hunt, activities and readings from Aleesah Darlison’s Ash Rover Keeper of the Phoenix and I Dare You, with some arty entertainment and morning tea.
RSVP to reception@westbooks.com.au or phone 9361 4211.
The Apothecary by Maile Meloy, ISBN 9781921758171, Text Publishing
Reviewed by Celine, 11, WA
A copy of this book was provided by the publisher.
14-year-old Janie lives in a world where war is very common. Her parents are communists, which means they are on a different side to most people. To avoid being put in prison, Janie and her parents have to leave America and move to London. When she arrives, a boy called Benjamin befriends her. However, being friends with Benjamin wasn’t a very smart move. Benjamin’s father is the apothecary, and owns a shop with potions. One day, while Benjamin and Janie were in the apothecary’s shop, the Russian spies turned up, and the apothecary thrusts them a magical book (the Pharmacopeia) and hides them in the cellar. When they go back upstairs, the shop has been ransacked and Benjamin’s father had disappeared. Will Benjamin ever find his father, the apothecary? Can Janie and Benjamin hide from the Russian spies? Is anyone trustworthy?
This was a spellbinding novel, with irresistible characters. Although the cover wasn’t very captivating, I was enthralled from the very first paragraph. I would highly recommend this book to children from ages 10–14, with a vast imagination. This novel receives 110% approval from me.
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Celine is one of our regular book reviewers. Her most recent review (if you don’t count this one) was of The 26-Storey Treehouse. If YOU would like to send us a book review, check out our submission guidelines. Happy reading!
Most of you will be back at school by the time you read this. I hope you have lots of exciting plans for 2014.
Here are some of mine:
Even though the blog has had a holiday during January, we’ve been working away gathering bookish news, reviews and interviews. And I know quite a few of you love entering writing and art competitions, so you’ll be pleased to know that I’ve also updated the Kids’ Writing Comps page with the first of the writing competitions for 2014.
Did you read any good books over the school holidays? (Send us your review!)
Rebecca
Matilda is the last of our Junior Reviewers visiting the blog before the New Year. Matilda is 7 and she has been writing book reviews for Alphabet Soup since 2011. In 2013 she reviewed Anton Can Do Magic, and An Aussie Year. When she’s not reading, she likes skipping (with skipping ropes), drawing portraits and writing poems. Sometimes she wins poetry prizes. Her favourite books of all are the Kumiko books by Briony Stewart.
Today she shares her favourite books read in 2013 (in no particular order).
The Kingdom of Silk series by Glenda Millard, illustrated by Stephen Michael King (except the first book, illustrated by Caroline Magerl)
The Faraway Tree series by Enid Blyton
The Magic Saddle by Christobel Mattingley, illustrated Patricia Mullins
One Riddle, One Answer by Lauren Thompson, illustrated Linda S Wingerter
The 13-Storey Treehouse series by Andy Griffiths, illustrated Terry Denton
Two Trickster Tales retold by Sophie Masson, illustrated by David Allan
Lulu Bell and the Birthday Unicorn by Belinda Murrell
Audrey of the Outback series by Christine Harris, illustrated Ann James
Kumiko series by Briony Stewart
Storm Boy by Colin Thiele
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Have you read any of Matilda’s favourite picks?
Celine is 11 and has been a regular reviewer for Alphabet Soup’s magazine and blog since she was 6. Her favourite pastimes include writing stories, poetry and book reviews, but she will always make time for playing the violin and jogging with her dog.
In 2013, Celine reviewed The 26-Storey Treehouse by Andy Griffiths and illustrated by Terry Denton (and we have some more of Celine’s reviews for you early in 2014).
Celine’s favourite reads in 2013 include:
The Ivory Rose by Belinda Murrell
The River Charm by Belinda Murrell
Out of My Mind by Sharon M Draper
The Ruby Talisman by Belinda Murrell
The 13-Storey Treehouse by Andy Griffiths, illustrated by Terry Denton
Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Hard Luck by Jeff Kinney
Dork Diaries Party Time by Rachel Renee Russell
The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins [Editor’s Note: this is a Young Adult title]
The Story of Doctor Dolittle by Hugh Lofting
Verity Sparks, Lost and Found by Susan Green
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Have you read any of Celine’s favourite picks for 2013?
Philippa is 12 and lives in Western Australia. She has been reviewing books for Alphabet Soup since 2008. She loves to play viola, read books and write poems and stories. (She reads all kinds of books, but school stories are her favourites.) Books she has reviewed for Alphabet Soup this year include The Amazing Spencer Gray; Alex, the Dog and the Unopenable Door; and Liar & Spy.
Philippa has selected the best books she read during the year, and here they are — highly recommended by her and in no particular order!
The River Charm by Belinda Murrell
Goodnight Mister Tom by Michelle Magorian
Alex, the Dog and the Unopenable Door by Ross Montgomery
Tom Gates (the series) by L Pichon
The Kingdom of Silk series by Glenda Millard, illustrated by Stephen Micheal King (except book 1: illustrated by Caroline Magerl) — Philippa particularly loves books 6 and 7
The Secret Garden by Frances Hodgson Burnett
Cookie by Jacqueline Wilson, illustrated Nick Sharratt
Liar & Spy by Rebecca Stead
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Have you read any of the books Philippa recommends?
Joseph is 9 and lives in WA. He loves reading and has been reviewing books for Alphabet Soup since 2011. When he’s not reading, he likes writing, and playing cricket and when he grows up he wants to be an author or a cricket player. This year he has reviewed the Don’t Look Now series, Figaro and Rumba and the Cool Cats, The 39-Storey Treehouse, The Nelly Gang and Maximum Maxx.
Of the books he read in 2013, here are his favourites (they’re not in any order) —
Over 1000 Fantastic Facts by Miles Kelly
The Baked Bean Bandit by Simon Mitchell
The 39-Storey Treehouse by Andy Griffiths, illustrated Terry Denton
The Nelly Gang by Stephen Axelsen
Too Small to Fail by Morris Gleitzman
Treasure Fever by Andy Griffiths, illustrated Terry Denton
The Word Spy and The Return of the Word Spy by Ursula Dubosarsky, illustrated Tohby Riddle
The Tom Gates series by L Pichon
The Cryptic Casebook of Coco Carlomagno and Alberta: The Perplexing Pineapple by Ursula Dubosarsky, illustrated Terry Denton
alphabetsoup.net.au 