Posted in Book reviews by Rebecca

What we’re reading: Roland Harvey

Posted on by Alphabet Soup

The Wombats Go on Camp by Roland Harvey, ISBN 9781743315040, Allen & Unwin

A copy of this book was provided by the publisher.

the wombats go on camp
Mrs Nott and Ms Annabel are taking their students (The Wombats) on their first camp ever. Once they arrive, the kids have fun doing all sorts of activities — like exploring, cooking and performing. Each camper has a page (a bit like a diary entry) where they talk about what’s been happening that day from their point of view. Some kids are loving the camp … but not all of them!
—
The illustrations are recognisably Roland Harvey’s — they are so detailed and there’s something new and even sillier to see every time you read the book. (Sometimes the illustrations show the real story of camp events, despite what the camper is telling us!)
—
Don’t miss the endpapers where you can read all about each student and find out each one’s nickname, hobbies, enemies and more. (And a final tip: make sure you read their names out loud.)
 ——————–
—
Everything We Ever Saw by Roland Harvey, ISBN 9781743313671, Allen & Unwin
A copy of this book was provided by the publisher.
everything we ever saw
If you are a Roland Harvey fan (is there anyone who isn’t?) you might have figured out that Everything We Ever Saw is Roland Harvey’s six picture books — about a family’s trips exploring Australia — all together in one book. What a good idea.
—
Everything We Ever Saw includes:
—
At the Beach:
at the beach
—
In the Bush:
in the bush
—
In the City:
in the city
—
To the Top End:
to the top end
—
All the Way to WA:
all the way to WA
—
On the Farm:
on the farm
I love how different each trip is, and yet, they are all trips to different parts of the same country — Australia. I had fun recognising places I’ve been to and poring over all the parts of Australia I haven’t been to yet. Roland Harvey’s illustrations are hilarious and detailed, and studying each page closely has kept me busy for hours.
—
I can’t help thinking that Everything We Ever Saw would make a fantastic gift for overseas friends who are interested in Australia’s landscape, climate, people and creatures.
—
And — you already know how much I love looking at endpapers — this book has great endpapers, too. You’ll find a map of Australia showing the sites where the family travelled and the wildlife they spotted on the way.
—
This is a book that will keep you entertained all summer holidays.
© November 2013 “Reviews of The Wombats Go on Camp and Everything We Ever Saw” by Rebecca Newman (https://soupblog.wordpress.com)
Posted in Book reviews by Joseph, Book reviews by kids

Book review: Figaro and Rumba and the Cool Cats

Posted on by Alphabet Soup

Figaro and Rumba and the Cool Cats by Anna Fienberg, ill. Stephen Michael King. ISBN 9781743313497, Allen & Unwin.

Reviewed by Joseph, 9 WA

A review copy of this book was provided by the publisher.

Figaro and Rumba and the Cool Cats

Figaro and Rumba are friends — Rumba writes songs for the Cool Cats (a band) but Figaro likes to sing along and Figaro is not a good singer. This book is about these two friends and a little cat called Dora. The Cool Cats band’s best singer (Marta) has a car and Figaro, Rumba and Dora take the car for a drive without Marta knowing. They end up at the house of one of Dora’s friends and Figaro is sure there is some kind of monster following them. At the house, they make a discovery about Figaro …

Will Marta figure out that someone’s taken her car? What IS the monster? Can Figaro and Rumba fix their mistakes and save the day?

My favourite thing about the book is when Figaro has a dream — it’s a sort of warning about the monster. At that bit of the book, Dad told me it was bedtime and I didn’t want to stop reading. (Unfortunately I had to stop because Dad took the book away, so I finished it the next day.)

One thing that made me stop and think was ‘Why would the friends take the car without permission?’

The illustrations make the story even funnier and you get to know the characters more. I recognised the illustrator from The Pocket Dogs, which is one of my favourite picture books and if you liked Tashi, this is the same author as those books.

I give Figaro and Rumba and the Cool Cats 7.4 out of 10. I think 6 to 9 year olds would enjoy this book best because of the type of storytelling, and they will enjoy the illustrations.

Posted in poetry

Young Writers in Action – The Tree’s Gifts

Posted on by Alphabet Soup
The Trees Gifts
by Gillian, 11, USA
The
Tree’s gift
In the spring
Is to give us hope
That warmer days are
Coming.   The tree’s gift in
The summer is to give us a shady
Spot to sit and read a book.  The tree’s
Gift  in the fall is to give us vibrant  leaves
To jump in.   The tree’s gift in the winter is to
Let us admire its glittering ornaments and bright
Lights and to remind us that a new year is beginning.
A tree is
A gift all
Year long.
Posted in Book reviews by kids, Book reviews by Pippa

Book Review: Alex, The Dog and the Unopenable Door

Posted on by Alphabet Soup

Alex, The Dog and the Unopenable Door by Ross Montgomery, ISBN 9780571294619, Faber and Faber

Review by Philippa, 12, WA

A review copy of this book was provided by the publisher.

Alex, the dog and the unopenable door (cover)

Alex lives near The Cusp, a border around the Forbidden Land which prevents humans from going in. Alex father has made it to the magical centre of the Forbidden Land but when he comes back he starts digging holes in the back garden, and trying to run back to the centre of the Forbidden Land. Then Alex is captured by the head of expeditions-to-the-centre. Can he escape and find out the truth about his father?

This is a fantasy-thriller. The story is gripping and it is not like any other book I’ve read before. Do not read it 5 minutes before bedtime! (You’ll want to stay up all night reading it.)

I think the title doesn’t match the story. There is a lot going on in the book but the title makes it sound like a light read and for younger readers than I think will enjoy it, and the title doesn’t tell you it’s a fantasy book. I thought a better title might be something like The Secret of The Cusp.

I recommend this book for ages 10 to Adult. (I gave it to my Nana to read, and she couldn’t put it down either.)

Alex, The Dog and the Unopenable Door is in my Top Ten reads for this year.

–

Philippa is one of Alphabet Soup’s Junior Reviewers. If you are aged 12 or under, you can email us your book reviews, too — check out our submission guidelines. You can also read Philippa’s most recent review — Liar & Spy. 
Posted in Book reviews by kids, Book reviews by Matilda

Book Review: An Aussie Year

Posted on by Alphabet Soup

An Aussie Year by Tania McCartney, ill. Tina Snerling, ISBN.9781921966248,   EK Books

Reviewed by Matilda, 7, WA

A review copy of this book was provided by the publisher.

an aussie year

This is a book about 5 Aussie kids and one dog and each month they tell you what Australian children do in that month. Matilda is my favourite character because my name is Matilda too, and that character even looks a bit like me.

There are lots of illustrations scattered across the page of each month. My favourite month in this book is December because everyone’s celebrating.

Some of my favourite illustrations are:

  • The girl playing hopscotch in February (because I like to do that)
  • The Harmony Day pictures on 21 March where they’re all holding hands.
  • The Easter egg hunt with the costumes and the bilby
  • The Tasmanian devil at the tea party (he’s funny)

At the back of the book there’s a map of Australia with a bit about each of the states.

I learned some new things in this book — like Canberra Day is in March. (I didn’t know there was such a thing as Canberra Day).

I think all kids up to age 10 would like this book. There’s lots to look at and even if you think you know everything Aussie kids do in every month you can still learn some new things.

—

This review is part of a Blog Tour celebrating the launch of An Aussie Year. Check out all the stops on the tour. Or why not have a sneak peek at the characters in An Aussie Year?

Posted in poetry

Young Writers in Action: Brooklyn Bridge Poem

Posted on by Alphabet Soup

Brooklyn Bridge Poem

by Arya, 10, Ridge Road Elementary School, USA

The Great East River Bridge
….John Augustus Roebling designed

Stood up high and tall,
….Held together by iron strings confined

Connecting Manhattan to Brooklyn,
….While in the river swim the fins

As the towers touched the sky,
….The birds soar and fly

The traffic of cars, vans, and buses move on,
….As the conversations on the walkway carry on

In the morning the bridge is a road to success
….At night it takes us home to rest!

—

Would you like your work to be considered for publication on Alphabet Soup’s blog? Check out our submission guidelines.

Posted in info

Family-friendly activities at the State Library of WA

Posted on by Alphabet Soup

Picture a Story Family Day

Explore the magic of picture books with your child at a fun family day at the State Library of Western Australia.

Join a magical story-time before taking part in the host of art activities on offer.

Kids will love creating artworks to hang in our tiny gallery. They’ll also learn new drawing techniques from local illustrators and create a small book to take home. Don’t forget to visit the fabulous fairy tale photo booth to have your picture taken!

Before you leave, purchase picture books from the State Library Shop and have them signed by the illustrators themselves.

The Family Day is a wonderful opportunity to explore the world of picture books illustrations with your little ones.

When: Saturday 2 November.

Join a special storytime from 10.30am and fun family activities from 11.00am to 1.30pm.

Where: The Place, Mezzanine Floor, State Library of Western Australia (25 Francis Street Northbridge, WA)

Recommended for: Children aged 6+ and their families. Younger siblings are also welcome.

Cost: Free

Bookings: Not required

More info: visit the State Library of WA website

—

SLWA event

Picture a Story Exhibition

 The Picture a Story Family Day is being held as part of the Picture a Story exhibition which is taking place from 2 November 2013 to 27 February 2014. On display throughout The Gallery (Ground Floor) and The Place are original illustrations from Australian picture books from the 1970s to today.

When: 2 November 2013 – 27 February 2014

Where: The Gallery, Ground Floor and The Place, Mezzanine Floor, State Library of Western Australia (25 Francis Street Northbridge, WA)

Entry is FREE. Open during library hours.

Posted in poetry

Time for a Poem: Windy Nights

Posted on by Alphabet Soup

Happy Hallowe’en — here’s a poem to spook your friends!

—

Windy Nights by Robert Louis Stevenson

 
Whenever the moon and stars are set,
Whenever the wind is high,
All night long in the dark and wet,
A man goes riding by.
Late in the night when the fires are out,
Why does he gallop and gallop about?
—
Whenever the trees are crying aloud,
And ships are tossed at sea,
By, on the highway, low and loud,
By at the gallop goes he.
By at the gallop he goes, and then
By he comes back at the gallop again.
—
Do you know any other scary or spooky poems good for sharing at Hallowe’en? Tell us your favourites in the comments below!
Posted in Book reviews by Rebecca

What we’re reading: Shimmer

Posted on by Alphabet Soup

Shimmer by Jennifer McBride & Lynda Nixon, ISBN 97811922089434, Fremantle Press

A review copy of Shimmer was provided by the publisher.

Shimmer (cover)

One afternoon David accidentally summons a genie when he’s out walking in the bush. He can’t believe his luck — he has his own genie to grant him wishes! — but he quickly discovers that having a genie is not as easy as he thought. The teenage genie, Kora, has been sent to Earth against her will. She resents being harnessed to anyone and she is especially annoyed to be harnessed to this teenage Earth boy.

Trouble is brewing and not just on Earth. David and Kora realise they will need to join forces to protect the people they love.

Set predominantly in our everyday world, Shimmer will grab upper primary readers who love a fantasy thriller. This is a Good vs Evil story with a twist — and the plot seems to hint at a possible sequel, too.

© October 2013 “Review of Shimmer” by Rebecca Newman (https://soupblog.wordpress.com)