Show Day by Penny Matthews, ill. Andrew McLean, ISBN 9781862916890, Scholastic Australia
Reviewed by Jin Xiang Wilson, 7, VIC*
This story is about Lil and her family going to a show. Dad was in the wood-chopping contest and entered his orange marmalade in the Craft and Cookery contest. Mum entered her pumpkin, jam, cheese scones and an iced birthday cake in the show. Henry, Lil’s brother, entered his guinea pig in the Best Pet contest. Lil has a special entry for the Most Unusual Pet but it’s a secret.
This week we are pleased to be featuring book reviews from students at Duncraig Primary School* in WA. Our first guest reviewer is Lara—welcome, Lara!
Think Smart, Hazel Green! by Odo Hirsch, ill. Andrew McLean, ISBN 9781741141108, Allen & Unwin
Reviewed by Lara, 10, WA
Chocolate dippers! Cherry Flingers! Cream Canoopers! All the delicious pastries in Mr Volio’s bakery. But how about the thought of them being gone … forever?
Will Hazel Green ever find a way to help poor Mr Volio stay in his baker’s shop? When Mr Volio has ended his lease in his shop a mysterious new owner buys it. Who is this new owner? And how will Hazel Green help Mr Volio to stay, and still devour his glorious pastries? Will her mathematical friend Yakov Plonsk (AKA the Yak) use his logical mind to assist her? Hazel will have to think smart for this adventure!
Andrew McLean’s magical black and white watercolour illustrations make the book come alive. You only need to glance at them to understand them. Odo Hirsch’s detailed words and phrases help readers to really understand the pictures.
This is a book suitable for ten and over. The expressive characters in this book will capture any reader’s mind. I love this book because in every page you turn you feel the tension rising through your body.
Odo Hirsch has captured readers internationally with his essence and flair of describing wonderful and capturing characters. This book is the last of the Hazel Green series. The others are titled Hazel Green; Something’s Fishy, Hazel Green!; and Have Courage, Hazel Green, all with clever and satisfying plots.
There’s a Goat in My Coat, by Rosemary Milne, illustrated by Andrew McLean
Reviewed by students at Winthrop Primary School, WA. Teacher: Mrs Therese Cianfrini.
Suitable for Ages: 0 – 7 years
Our Favourite Poems: Lazy Little Lizard, Piglet in Puddles, Wriggle and Giggle, Penguins, and The Hopping Song.
We loved the cover of the book, it was colourful and inviting, the illustrations made us want to open the cover and discover the exciting poems inside.
Each poem in the book was cleverly created with rhyme and rhythm that made the poetry fast and cheerful, with a good beat to encourage children to get involved with saying the poems. The author really used her imagination to create some hilarious and entertaining poetry that will encourage young children to learn as they sing along with these poems. They will learn to walk, count numbers and say new words.
Our little brothers and sisters would love this book of poems, they are silly and full of nonsense that would really make them laugh. The bright colourful illustrations would also involve them in the book. Rosemary Milne has created some awesome poems that will make small children want to hear and say them over and over again. The book keeps the reader interested, as you never know what the next page will have on it.
This exciting and entertaining book will even have the adults enjoying the time they spend reading to their young children. The book has a nice ending and would be a great bedtime reading book. We recommend that you get this fun book for your children, we know they will love it.
Winthrop Primary students review ‘There’s a Goat in My Coat’. Photo used with permission.
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These Winthrop Primary students are members of our Undercover Readers Club, a book reviewers club for kids. (The book was provided by publisher, Allen & Unwin.) If you or your class would like to join the club, you can download an information pack (PDF) from the magazine’s website. Membership is free!
* Jin Xiang Wilson is a member of our Undercover Readers Club. (Download information about the club on the magazine’s website.) A review copy of this picture book was provided by the publisher.
alphabetsoup.net.au 