Tag: children’s books

Book reviews by Iona Presentation College, Book reviews by kids

Book review: Fozia and the Quest of Prince Zal

Alphabet Soup

REVIEWED BY EVIE, 12, WA (IONA PRESENTATION COLLEGE)

Fozia and the Quest of Prince Zal by Rosanne Hawke, UQP, ISBN 9780702263071

The publisher provided a review copy of this book.

Fozia and the Quest of Prince Zal is an adventure and fantasy novel. This book is about Pakistan after the floods and about a girl called Fozia trying to find her family. Fozia lives with a boy called Jehan and his family after he saved her from the flood. Jehan’s family grow to love Fozia but they remind Fozia too much of her old family. So to help herself keep the memories of her family alive Fozia tells them a story. She tells a story about a prince with leprosy who is searching for his little sister in the jungle on a flying carpet. Prince Zal faces the beasts of the jungle and the pariyan to find his sister. Will he reach her before it’s too late? Everybody loves Fozia’s story but is it really fiction? Can Fozia learn to love her new family?

I liked this book as it was very original and creative talking about memory and hope as well as the love of friends but most importantly, family. The characters are very realistic, making you believe that this story actually could’ve happened, whilst still adding a bit of that fairytale magic.

This book showed me what the aftermath of a natural disaster would be like. This is the third book in the series so please read the other books first: Jehan and the Quest of the Lost Dog and Kelsey and the Quest of the Porcelain Doll.

If you like fairytales, history and real life references then I recommend this book for you. This book is probably best suited to 9 to 11-year-olds.

Evie is a member of Iona Presentation College’s student reviewers’ team. This is her first review for Alphabet Soup. To send us YOUR story, poem, artwork or book review, check out our submission guidelines. Happy reading!

Book reviews by Rebecca

Book review: The Pup’s Tale

Alphabet Soup
The Pup’s Tale by Darrel and Sally Odgers, ill. Janine Dawson, Scholastic Press ISBN 9781741697254"The Pup's Tale (cover)"
A review copy of this book was sent to us by the publisher.

Trump is an animal liaison officer at Pet Vet clinic. (He’s a Jack Russell terrier.) This is book 6 in the Pet Vet series.

When Dr Jeanie (the vet) checks on a mother labrador and her 15 newborn puppies, she discovers that the mother dog isn’t able to look after the smallest puppy, Tiny. Trump and Dr Jeanie have to try to find a foster-mother for Tiny, and keep an eye on him.

Before you get into the story, there are some sketches of the important people in the book. Throughout the book there are grey info boxes to help with interesting words (like ‘Runt—the smallest pup or piglet in a litter.’)

If you like books about animals (and especially dogs!), you’ll love The Pup’s Tale.

© July  2011 “Review of The Pup’s Tale by Darrel and Sally Odgers, ill. Janine Dawson”, reviewed by Rebecca Newman (Alphabet Soup magazine)
authors, illustrator, teachers' resources

WA book event: BOOKWIZ 2011

Alphabet Soup

28/6/2011 notice: We have been advised that this event has been cancelled.

The Children’s Book Council of Australia (WA branch) runs an annual book-based quiz in the style of ABC TV show, Spicks ‘n’ Specks. It’s called BOOKWIZ! Bring your family and friends along for a fun afternoon and meet local authors and illustrators.

"bookwiz 2011"

Sunday 3 July, 2-4 pm

MC: MEG MCKINLAY (author of Duck for a Day and The Truth About Penguins
Where: Boulevard Centre, Floreat [beneath Cambridge Library], Western Australia
Cost: $12 adults   $6 school students [includes refreshments]
Bookings: Chloe Mauger –cmauger@iinet.net.au–  phone: 9295 1328

authors

Totally Twins, an interview with Portia

Alphabet Soup

 

"Musical Mayhem cover"
The first book in the Totally Twins series

 

Totally Twins is a new series for girls. The first book in the series, Musical Mayhem, was released in September 2010. The author, Aleesah Darlison, is taking Musical Mayhem on a blog tour to celebrate the launch of the book, and she arranged for us to interview a character from the series—Portia. You can get to know Portia’s twin, Persephone, on another stop on the tour.

But now, let’s meet Portia.

Your twin sister, Persephone, keeps a diary. Do you keep a diary too?

No. Not yet, but seeing Perse have so much fun with her diary sure makes me want one too! I’m usually kept pretty busy with school and ballet practice but maybe I’ll ask Mum to splurge on a new diary for me. I can’t let Perse have all the fun!

What’s the best thing about having a twin sister?

Having someone you can always, always rely on.

What’s the worst thing about having a twin sister?

Having to share a birthday—every year. But at least Mum lets us have our own cakes.

Describe yourself in 5 words.

Fun, friendly, fabulous, fashionable and … FUNKY!

Perse is a sensible, sensitive, shy, serious and super sister! But don’t tell her I said that, it might go to her head.

If you found $20 lying on the ground, how would you spend it?

I’d buy some pink-iced cupcakes for Perse and me (chocolate for her, vanilla for me)—but don’t tell Mum because she’s dead against high sugar food. I’d also buy some new jewellery and magazines.

—

"Aleesah Darlison"

You can find out more about Aleesah Darlison at: www.aleesahdarlison.com. (There are some Totally Twins colouring-in pages you can download from her website.)

Persephone (Portia’s twin sister) also has her own blog where you can send her messages and download Totally Twins material. Visit Perse at: http://totally-twins.blogspot.com.

teachers' resources

CBCA Book of the Year

Alphabet Soup

Next week is Book Week in Australia and today the winners of the CBCA Book of the Year were announced. Visit the Children’s Book Council of Australia website to see the winners and honour books for 2010. I’ll be posting about this again over the weekend.
In the meantime … how many of the winners have you read?

~Rebecca

authors, illustrator, teachers' resources

Fremantle Children’s Literature Centre- Open Day 30 May 2010

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If you’re looking for a free family outing on Sunday, why not visit the Fremantle Children’s Literature Centre for their Open Day?

Running with the Horses (cover)You can admire or purchase books and artwork, attend free storytelling sessions and meet Alison Lester (and hear her talk about the techniques she used in the illustrations of her latest picture book, Running with the Horses. She’ll also be answering questions).

For more info, visit the Fremantle Children’s Literature Centre website. (Scroll down – info about the Open Day is the third item from the bottom.)

Alison Lester and WA writers and illustrators will be available to sign copies of their books.
authors, teachers' resources

Author event: Meet Rachel Spratt

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Meet the author of the Nanny Piggins books at the launch of the third book – Nanny Piggins and the Runaway Lion!

When: 3pm – 4.30pm, Saturday 6th March
Where: St Johns little church hall, opposite St Johns Church, St Johns Road, Glebe, NSW.
Cost: Free!

You can chat with the author, Rachel Spratt, and hear a reading from the book. And there’ll be refreshments and activities including a chocolate treasure hunt.

Head to the launch for a snorting good time!

RSVP essential! Please email louise@gleebooks.com.au

teachers' resources

Meet storyteller Glenn B Swift

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Tall Tales and True of Brave Knights and Fair Maidens (WA event)

Storyteller Glenn B Swift will let you in on what Sleeping Beauty, Rapunzel and Sir Lancelot had in common and what lessons they had to learn to live happily ever after. For ages four to 12. (This event is part of the WA Premier’s Summer Reading Challenge.)

Tuesday, 12 January from 11.00am to noon at Willagee Library and 2.00pm to 3.00pm at Canning Bridge Library.

Wednesday, 13 January from 1.00pm to 2.00pm at A.H. Bracks Library and 3.00pm to 4.00pm at Civic Square Library.

Cost: $2.00 per child (bookings essential).

For more information,  phone the City of Melville on 1300 635 845.

teachers' resources

Win a copy of Bush Secrets by Tjalaminu Mia and Jessica Lister!

Alphabet Soup

Thanks to everyone who entered our Wombat Divine giveaway. (Refer to the comments at that post to see who won, if you haven’t already!)

We thought we could squeeze in one last book giveaway before Christmas is upon us. A while back we reviewed Bush Secrets, by Tjalaminu Mia and Jessica Lister, about a granddaughter sharing a secret with her grandfather, and then Grandpa sharing a special place in the bush with her.

We have one review copy to give away! To enter, leave a comment at any post on Soup blog, telling us the title of a children’s book you love (0r loved as a child!) that has a Christmas theme.

This giveaway has been extended and entries close on Thursday 24 December 2009 at 5 pm Perth time (that’s Perth in Western Australia!).