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Good Reading : April 2009
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younger readers word of mouth Waterslain Angels Kevin Crossley-Holland A nnie is determined to solve the 300-year-old mystery of Waterslain’s missing angel statues. She joins forces with newcomer, Sandy, and together they embark on a treasure hunt – but they are not the only ones searching for the statues. What begins as an interesting puzzle to entertain the children in the school holidays becomes an enthralling and dangerous adventure, and often their enthusiasm for the hunt places the children in grave danger. Crossley-Holland brings the beautiful coastland of Norfolk to life in this delightful story. His text is rich with imagery and colour, and the dialect unique to the area. You can hear the sigh of the reeds in the marsh and smell the salt air. And the tension mounts as, with time against them, the children refuse to give up. ???? Orion $28.99 Reviewed by Wendy Noble Age guide 10+ This Morning I Met a Whale Michael Morpurgo Illustrated by Christian Birmingham ichael meets his whale one morning at sunrise, while birdwatching down by the river. He wasn’t expecting to meet a whale, let alone have a conversation with one, but this M whale has come a long way to find a child who would listen. He tells Michael of the dreadful things his grandfather had seen: coral reefs that lay dying, dolphins and turtles caught up in huge nets and icebergs collapsing into the sea. He says that humans must somehow rectify the damage they’ve done before it’s too late and asks Michael to promise to relay his message to the world. This is a beautiful book written by a master storyteller. It’s gutsy, heartbreaking and sends a powerful message to all of us. Give it to a child and let the whale speak for himself. ????? Walker Books $24.95 Reviewed by Merle Morcom Age guide 10+ The Master of the Fallen Chairs Henry Porter filled with ghostly tenants. Alba Hockmuth, another visiting relative, has taken control of the household and is feared by everyone. Help arrives in the unusual person of Iggy Ma-tuu Clava. Together, Iggy and Kim must discover the secrets of a magical painting of W fallen chairs. Thank goodness they find a friend in the stuffed great auk that is locked away in the Long Gallery. Although the bird has been extinct for over a hundred years, it’s not quite dead yet. Porter’s magical adventure has everything one could wish for in a thriller: ghosts, murder, suspense and time-travel, wrapped up in a mix of drama and humour. And it’s not over yet. ???? Orchard Books $17.99 Age guide 10+ Reviewed by Wendy Noble hen Kim Greenwood’s mother dies, he is sent to live at a vast old family estate, in a house AGE GUIDE 7+ gr ’ new book guide Great new releases this month Zoom and Fly, Mr Croc Jo Lodge Mr Croc is off to visit his friends. Will he take the car, the plane or the submarine? Join in all the fun with Elsie the Elephant, Lulu the Leopard, Wilf the Wolf and Zebedee the Zebra. Superb pop-ups and interactivity make this a must have ‘Mr Croc’ book. $24.99 Hachette Children’s Books ISBN: 9780340960035 AGE GUIDE 3+ Billy Bonkers 2: More madness Giles Andreae Illustrated by Nick Sharratt Billy’s back, and he’s more bonkers than ever! Turbo-charged trousers at sports day ... a monster waterskiing marathon ... even a plateful of cheesy chips can lead to mayhem in the madcap world of Billy Bonkers. Three more fantastically funny stories from this bestselling duo to make you split your sides laughing! $13.99 Hachette Children’s Books ISBN: 9781408303573 Beast Quest Special Edition Arax Adam Blade A special bumper edition of the exciting adventure stories that are as gripping as a computer game! Arax the Soul Stealer has snatched away good Wizard Aduro’s spirit, leaving the kingdom exposed to the evil of Wizard Malvel. To save Aduro, Tom tracks Arax to his cave – but the terrible Beast wants Tom’s soul, too … Don’t miss Beast Quest series 4: The Amulet of Aventia AGE GUIDE 7+ (releasing April 09). $15.99 Hachette Children’s Books ISBN: 9781408303825 gr promotionAPRIL 2009 i goodreading 47
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