Denzil, Apprentice Wizard

Another rollicking book series which has captivated my nine year old son is The Adventures of Denzil, Apprentice Wizard written by New Zealand children's fantasy writer, Sherryl Jordan. We have been progressively working our way through this charming and funny set of books about the exploits of Denzil, the boy wizard, and his master, the great wizard Valvasor.

Unwittingly transported to modern times, Denzil finds himself entangled with the MacAllister family, a lovable lot despite their flaws, and entranced by modern conveniences.  This is a familiar but captivating premise on which to base a children's fantasy novel and one which encourages young readers to think about history, time and place. How would it feel to go back or forward over seven centuries and witness life first-hand?

The first Denzil story, The Wednesday Wizard, was published in 1991 (way before Harry Potter was created), and the final novel, The Silver Dragon, in 2007.   We have the entire boxed set which includes Denzil’s Dilemma and The Great Bear Burglary.   It's been loads of fun to read aloud and the stories have had plenty of magical twists and turns to sustain our interest.   This little series has become one of our firm favourites.

Recommended for 8-10 age bracket.  Both boys and girls will enjoy the series.  Girls will identify with the headstrong protagonist, young Sam(antha) MacAllister, and boys, of course, will become Denzil in their mind's eye.  Mrs MacAllister and I also shared some common traits (a mother's exasperation with circumstances beyond her control mainly, and wry humour), so I found myself travelling in her shoes.

Books Bought and Borrowed: Beast Quest

An evil Wizard has enchanted the magical Beasts of Avantia – only a true hero can free the Beasts and stop them from destroying the land. Is Tom the hero Avantia has been waiting for?

I mean really.  The cover of these books alone would give one nightmares.  Lurid green creatures with pointed fangs, dripping with slime and snarling viciously.   However, my nine-year old son doesn't seem fazed in the least by the ghastly spectres in this apparently popular series.  He alternately sits, then lolls about on the sofa, for hours systematically working his way through the books.  He's up first thing before we all rise with one in hand. That, in itself, is a huge commendation to the author.

The Beast Quest series currently runs to 54 volumes bunched into six-book series with nicely benign titles such as, "The Golden Armour" and "The Amulet of Avantia".  Another series is in the offing according to our twelve year old neighbour whose brother is also an addict. 

Apparently, the kingdom of Avantia depends on the exploits of Tom, his best friend Elenna, a spirited girl, and their companions, Storm the jet-black stallion and Silver the faithful wolf.  Tom and his companions appear to be caught up in repeated quests to free the kingdom from the evil curses placed upon the beasts that protect it.  Oh, and to defeat the evil wizard, Malvel.  We can safely assume the successive plots must be action-packed to sustain the imagination of small boys. 

The books include an intricately illustrated map on the opening pages so the reader can gain his bearings for the key locations, such as the Rebel Settlement of Kaloom and The Black Ocean.  The text is interspersed with line drawings, mostly of Tom in various action poses - on horseback or with sword and shield raised aloft.   Enough drawings to add interest and break the reading into digestible parts for the target age group which is, I suspect, about 8-10 year old boys with an interest in fantasy, mythical creatures... and swords.

The series is clearly a great hit with independent readers.  It has generated spin-offs such as the mandatory website with games and competitions, collector cards and the Beast Quest Annual. 

I'm also quite taken by the biographical details about the author and want to know more about him.  Despite the popularity of the books and his prolific output, he seems to be quietly anonymous (and so young!).  From his website, I glean the following:

Adam Blade is in his late twenties and was born in Kent, England. His parents were both history teachers and amateur artists and Adam grew up surrounded by his father's paintings of historic English battles--which left a lifelong mark on his imagination. He was also fascinated by the ancient sword and shield that hung in his father's office. Adam's father said they were a Blade family heirloom. Sadly, Adam does not have his own Fire-Dragon or Horse-Man...but he really wishes he did!  

Yesterday, I happened to give my son the old wooden tai chi sword that belonged to his grandmother and he grabbed it with glee.  I understand now that my timing was impeccable.  It is his Beast Quest sword.  The perfect accessory for the books.

However.  As a post-script, I took a look at some Amazon reviews and noted that one parent thought it was an outright "hyper-violent fantasy series" and " highly inappropriate for younger readers".  The reviewer goes on to note that:

We wonder why kids are desensitized to violence when this type of material is deemed appropriate for pre-teens. I know many of the other parents say that "their boys love it!" - to each their own. As a parent of an 8 year-old and 5 year-old twins I don't want them reading about a little boy's back being shred to the bone by some demon wolf. Magic School Bus, Zac Power, Magic Tree House, Jack Stalwart - these are books for the 6-10 crowd!! 

So, this made me wonder whether I needed to censor the booklists of my independent readers.  Frankly, when we bolt to the library, I am happy to let the children make their own choices from the junior sections. I sort of hope the local library, if not the publishers, might have weeded out the dross. But can middle primary children distinguish between fictionalised violence involving fantasy creatures and malicious real world terror?  Do the hideous beasts signify our worst fears and horrors, and their conquest therefore convey a positive message?  The triumph of good over evil?  A parable that children can understand to help them be brave and resilient?  Or is it the stuff of bad dreams and twisted values?   Are modern-day stories any worse than Grimm's fairytales or the derring-do of comic book superheros?

I did baulk at bringing these books home from the library, based on the covers alone, but the fearless exploits of Tom and Elenna seem to captivate my boy with no obvious ill effects.  When asked why he likes Beast Quest he simply said he loves books which come in a series and continue with the same characters and familiar storyline. He guffawed at the suggestion that were too violent or gory. 

Nevertheless, it does raise interesting questions about fantasy violence, of which there is considerably more these days thanks to gaming, and its impact on children.

Books Bought and Borrowed: The Nutcracker

One of our favourite Christmas classic books is the Young Reader's edition of The Nutcracker from the story by E.T.A Hoffman and illustrated by Don Daly.  We scooped up a sturdy hard-backed copy from the Sydney Opera House shop after the Australian Ballet's astounding performance of the same ballet a few years ago.

It's a longer version than might suit a single bedtime reading, but comprises five easily digestible chapters.  The book is unusually typeset in two columns which, as it turns out, is ideal for reading out aloud so you can scan ahead and adjust to the appropriate theatrical voice or facial expression.  The illustrations are a major treat; rich and detailed.  The sort of book you should read sitting snuggled up side-by-side with a child so they can absord the impressive full-page pictures while you bring the story to life.

Stories by the Christmas Tree

Christmas Cheer

~ Thomas Tusser

Good husband and housewife, now chiefly be glad,
Things handsome to have, as they ought to be had.
They both do provide, against Christmas do come,
To welcome their neighbors, good cheer to have some.

Good bread and good drink, a good fire in the hall,
Brawn, pudding, and souse, and good mustard withal.
Beef, mutton, and pork, and good pies of the best,
Pig, veal, goose, and capon, and turkey well drest,
Cheese, apples and nuts, and good carols to hear,
As then in the country is counted good cheer.

What cost to good husband, is any of this?
Good household provision only it is:
Of other the like, I do leave out a many,
That costeth the husband never a penny.

***

Haven't organised a thing for the holidays.  School ends next week and I'll have to arrange leave or book holiday programs by the end of next week.  While I'm faltering on the large-scale plans, we do have the gorgeous (real) Christmas tree half-decorated and have been playing carols and reading Christmas stories.  Our favourite is "Harvey Slumfenburger's Christmas Present" by John Burningham (2004).  We have a modest collection of seasonal stories that we drag down from the book shelf each year.  This one is a lovely tale, a real keeper, and the illustrations are charming; a point of conversation in themselves.   What DID Santa leave Harvey?   That rectangular box is the right shape, but too fat, for an iPad2 we decided.

It's Christmas Eve and there is one present left in Father Christmas's sack. It's for a small boy called Harvey Slumfenburger, who lives far, far away on top of the Roly Poly Mountain. But no journey is too far for Father Christmas!

Novels

To A Lady Who Said It Was Sinful to Read Novels

Christian Milne  1773–1816

To love these books, and harmless tea,

Has always been my foible,

Yet will I ne’er forgetful be

To read my Psalms and Bible.

Travels I like, and history too,

Or entertaining fiction;

Novels and plays I’d have a few,

If sense and proper diction.

I love a natural harmless song,

But I cannot sing like Handel;

Deprived of such resource, the tongue

Is sure employed — in scandal.

***

Well, the youngest and first to fall ill has gone back to school today but now the other two are in the infirmary with fevers. So I am still on Personal and Carers Leave three days running. This has enabled me to catch up on washing and ironing, rake leaves, clean the refrigerator, cook leftovers and indulge in a bit of reading. Things I normally put off.

Novel reading is also an excellent invalid pastime. Charly is working her way through the Harry Potter series, while Ro-Ro and I are reading the Lemony Snicket 13-part journey through a Series of Unfortunate Events and Wanna is re-reading the Princess Poppy series and her beloved Pearlie books. Our imaginations are healthily engrossed in magical fantasy worlds while our fragile bodies recover.

Books are indeed the sugar to sweeten the medicine and the greatest cure for misery.

Books bought and borrowed: Alice-Miranda At School

Meet Alice-Miranda Highton-Smith-Kennington-Jones, possibly the bravest, most positive seven and one quarter year old you’re ever likely to encounter.   In her first adventure, Alice-Miranda At School Alice-Miranda quickly learns that not everything is as it seems at Winchesterfield-Downsfordvale Academy for Proper Young Ladies. The Headmistress, Miss Grimm hasn’t been seen for ten years. The prize winning flowers are gone and a mysterious stranger has been camping in the greenhouse. Alice-Miranda must complete a series of impossible tests to prove she is worthy of keeping her place. Join her on this rollicking adventure as Alice-Miranda proves that no matter how young or how small, there’s nothing can beat a tiny child with a true optimistic spirit and sheer determination.

(From the author, Jacqueline Harvey)

Little Wanna and I have just finished reading the first Alice-Miranda book.  There's nothing like a book about an all girls' boarding school to provide a captivating plot-line and a complex set of relationships.  We enjoyed barracking for Alice Miranda and snarling at toffy-nosed, head prefect Alethea, but some of the adult characters were hard to comprehend.  The improbable arrival of Miss Grimm's forlorn suitor, like Grizzly Adams emerging from the bush, and the twists in the tale of their relationship was too much, too late in the book.  That part lost us.  Still, I was reading to a six year old and I think this is pitched at the older self-reader who may throughly enjoy the dramatic unfolding of events close to the end.   We did fall completely for Alice-Miranda herself though, and will be on the look out for the sequels, Alice-Miranda On Holiday and Alice-Miranda Takes The Lead.   It is the sort of story that lends itself to a series where the characters can mature.

As an aside, I was completely distracted by all the derivative English stereotypes imposed on an Australian boarding school.  I suppose that's what these schools are like around Sydney and the Southern Highlands where the author has taught, but I'd like to read about a regional boarding school where there are no quadruple-barrelled surnames or aspiration for girls to become "prim and proper".  Wouldn't that be fun!    

Louisa's rock

The Rock and the Bubble

~ Louisa May Alcott

Oh! a bare, brown rock

Stood up in the sea,

The waves at its feet

Dancing merrily.

A little bubble

Once came sailing by,

And thus to the rock

Did it gayly cry,

Ho! clumsy brown stone,

Quick, make way for me:

I'm the fairest thing

That floats on the sea.

See my rainbow-robe,

See my crown of light,

My glittering form,

So airy and bright.

O'er the waters blue,

I'm floating away,

To dance by the shore

With the foam and spray.

Now, make way, make way;

For the waves are strong,

And their rippling feet

Bear me fast along."

But the great rock stood

Straight up in the sea:

It looked gravely down,

And said pleasantly

Little friend, you must

Go some other way;

For I have not stirred

this many a long day.

Great billows have dashed,

And angry winds blown;

But my sturdy form

Is not overthrown.

Nothing can stir me

In the air or sea;

Then, how can I move,

Little friend, for thee?

Then the waves all laughed

In their voices sweet;

And the sea-birds looked,

From their rocky seat,

At the bubble gay,

Who angrily cried,

While its round cheek glowed

With a foolish pride

You shall move for me;

And you shall not mock

At the words I say,

You ugly, rough rock.

Be silent, wild birds!

While stare you so?

Stop laughing, rude waves,

And help me to go!

For I am the queen

Of the ocean here,

And this cruel stone

Cannot make me fear.

Dashing fiercely up,

With a scornful word,

Foolish Bubble broke;

But Rock never stirred.

Then said the sea-birds,

Sitting in their nests

To the little ones

Leaning on their breasts,

Be not like Bubble,

Headstrong, rude, and vain,

Seeking by violence

Your object to gain;

"But be like the rock,

Steadfast, true, and strong,

Yet cheerful and kind,

And firm against wrong.

Heed, little birdlings,

And wiser you'll be

For the lesson learned

Today by the sea.

Yep - it reads a bit like a sentimental Hallmark narrative but contains a good message nonetheless.  We are tackling Good Wives at the moment, after having zipped through Little Women, so it was time to include a reference to Ms Alcott, the poet.

Books Bought and Borrowed: Grandpa

We recently came across a gem of a children's picture book from the library called simply, Grandpa, by Lilith Norman and illustrated by Noela Young. The realism of the text and illustrations is quite startling.

The story is a child's reflections about his cantankerous grandfather who lives with his family and occupies the boy's bedroom.  It spares no detail on the fragile nature of his parent's relationship with his grandfather, their irritation with his fusty presence, including his conservative preference for meals of 'meat and three veg' which constrains their cooking and eating habits. The boy shares some of this irritation but more equably, as children do.  Then Grandpa falls ill and is hospitalised.  The bedside scene is poignant. When Grandpa dies, the family misses his idiosyncrysies.  We see his mother weeping and, to close the story, the boy decides to take in to school some of the treasured items that Grandpa had made him and to share his fond memories with his classmates.

I am always grateful for books which deal sensitively, but accurately, with the sadder aspects of  life, for none of us are spared these experiences. It is no wonder that this book was awarded an Honour book in the 1999 Children's Book Council Awards and the winner of the 1999 Family Therapy Associations of Australia Family Award for Young Children.

There is precious little information online about Ms Norman, who did not reach the dizzy heights of celebrity as some children's authors do, but I found this quote in my web meanderings:

Lilith Norman creates works for children that are consistent in their loving portrayal of the author's native Australian landscape and their realistic young protagonists. A librarian by profession, Norman did not begin writing for children until she was in her forties. "I managed to avoid becoming a writer for quite a long time, mainly, I think, because it seemed like very hard work for a very speculative result," she said.  "It wasn't until I started working as a children's librarian that I realised these were the books I wanted to write. . . . I like to write about ordinary children trying to cope, for I believe that most of us can cope with whatever is thrown at us, if we really have to--otherwise we'd all be living in caves still."

Ms Norman, who would be now aged about 83, wrote many children's books from the 1970s to 1990s.  We will be sure to search for more in our library fossickings.

Books Bought and Borrowed: English Roses

Much to my surprise, Charley and her chums seem to be enjoying the 1993 English Roses series of books written by Madonna and illlustrated by Jeffrey Fulvimari.  She makes a bee-line for them at the local library.  However, they did receive rather scathing reviews in the British press and by other children's authors.  

"This story has an arc but no characters, a development but no detail. Most oddly, given Madonna's claim to fame, she seems entirely unable to make words sing for her. They lie as flat on the page as a failed pudding." says the Telegraph. 

The illustrations are "sub-Warholian, which is to say, highly decorative and distinctly perverse. The girls, all apparently suffering from anorexia, are dressed like mini-skirted fashion models, and their otherwise wholly featureless faces all have gaping eyes and rosebud lips." says the London Evening Standard.

According to Wikipedia, the book debuted at number one on the New York Times Bestsellers List for children's picture books and remained there for an impressive eighteen weeks. The English Roses received the widest launch in publication history as it was released in over a hundred countries on the same day; it also debuted in thirty languages. It is now available in 40 languages and in more than 110 countries worldwide.

The English Roses is a story of rivalry and friendship among schoolgirls in contemporary London. Four little girls-Nicole, Amy, Charlotte, and Grace-are eleven years old and the very best of friends. They have sleepovers, picnics and ice-skating parties that exclude Binah, a beautiful girl whose seemingly perfect life makes them "green with envy." However, when a feisty, pumpernickel-loving fairy godmother takes them on a magical journey, they learn to their great surprise that Binah's life is not nearly as enviable as it had seemed.

They seem to be the Bratz dolls of kidlit.  Should I also be worried that she loves and reads over and over again the Captain Underpants and Dumb Bunnies collections and the Naughtiest Schoolgirl series by Enid Blyton?  I can see her fascination for books with a clear and fast-paced narrative and short, realistic dialogue.  She likes stories that are funny and entertaining, rather than overly descriptive or moralising. She's in that transitional space between picture books and teen fiction.  For the moment, if it keeps her reading enthusiastically, superficial is fine.  What I don't like are the contemporary tweenie books, particularly those for boys, which make a virtue of being the troublesome child and the under-achiever, and those which focus on grubby humour - all snot and spew.  I can see the motivation and the possible appeal to some children - many are immensely popular and written by well-regarded authors, but if I am to act as chief censor while I can, these are the ones to avoid. 

Learning to Read

No colour coded bookshelves here.  Just sturdy shelves groaning with pictures books stashed in higgle-de-piggle-de.  It's wonderful to re-read classics with your children and re-live you childhood, and catch up on those you missed (there are so many I shamefully confess).  There are a batch of new authors and titles to explore as well.  Oh, and the Home Readers from school which Little Wanna reads it fits and spurts sounding out new words phonetically and getting distracted by describing the pictures.  Thankfully Charly helps out listening to her practice 'sounding out' the news words and providing simultaneous commentary.  It's a slow old process sometimes.

Current favourites are:

• Rowan of Rin series by Emily Rodda 8+
• Felicity Wishes series by Emma Thomson; 5+
• Nancy Drew and the Clue Crew series by Carolyn Keene.  6+

Book Week

Television

The most important thing we've learned,
So far as children are concerned,
Is never, NEVER, NEVER let

Them near your television set --

Or better still, just don't install

The idiotic thing at all.

In almost every house we've been,

We've watched them gaping at the screen.

They loll and slop and lounge about,

And stare until their eyes pop out.

(Last week in someone's place we saw

A dozen eyeballs on the floor.)

They sit and stare and stare and sit

Until they're hypnotised by it,

Until they're absolutely drunk

With all that shocking ghastly junk.

Oh yes, we know it keeps them still,

They don't climb out the window sill,

They never fight or kick or punch,

They leave you free to cook the lunch

And wash the dishes in the sink --

But did you ever stop to think,

To wonder just exactly what

This does to your beloved tot?

IT ROTS THE SENSE IN THE HEAD!

IT KILLS IMAGINATION DEAD!

IT CLOGS AND CLUTTERS UP THE MIND!

IT MAKES A CHILD SO DULL AND BLIND

HE CAN NO LONGER UNDERSTAND

A FANTASY, A FAIRYLAND!

HIS BRAIN BECOMES AS SOFT AS CHEESE!

HIS POWERS OF THINKING RUST AND FREEZE!

HE CANNOT THINK -- HE ONLY SEES!

'All right!' you'll cry. 'All right!' you'll say,

'But if we take the set away,

What shall we do to entertain

Our darling children? Please explain!'

We'll answer this by asking you,

'What used the darling ones to do?

'How used they keep themselves contented

Before this monster was invented?'

Have you forgotten? Don't you know?

We'll say it very loud and slow:

THEY ... USED ... TO ... READ! They'd READ and READ,

AND READ and READ, and then proceed

To READ some more. Great Scott! Gadzooks!

One half their lives was reading books!

The nursery shelves held books galore!

Books cluttered up the nursery floor!

And in the bedroom, by the bed,

More books were waiting to be read!

Such wondrous, fine, fantastic tales

Of dragons, gypsies, queens, and whales

And treasure isles, and distant shores

Where smugglers rowed with muffled oars,

And pirates wearing purple pants,

And sailing ships and elephants,

And cannibals crouching 'round the pot,

Stirring away at something hot.

(It smells so good, what can it be?

Good gracious, it's Penelope.)

The younger ones had Beatrix Potter

With Mr. Tod, the dirty rotter,

And Squirrel Nutkin, Pigling Bland,

And Mrs. Tiggy-Winkle and-

Just How The Camel Got His Hump,

And How the Monkey Lost His Rump,

And Mr. Toad, and bless my soul,

There's Mr. Rat and Mr. Mole-

Oh, books, what books they used to know,

Those children living long ago!

So please, oh please, we beg, we pray,

Go throw your TV set away,

And in its place you can install

A lovely bookshelf on the wall.

Then fill the shelves with lots of books,

Ignoring all the dirty looks,

The screams and yells, the bites and kicks,

And children hitting you with sticks-

Fear not, because we promise you

That, in about a week or two

Of having nothing else to do,

They'll now begin to feel the need

Of having something to read.

And once they start -- oh boy, oh boy!

You watch the slowly growing joy

That fills their hearts. They'll grow so keen

They'll wonder what they'd ever seen

In that ridiculous machine,

That nauseating, foul, unclean,

Repulsive television screen!

And later, each and every kid

Will love you more for what you did.

Poem by Roald Dahl

Illustration by Jessie Willcox Smith

This week is Book Week- the longest running children's festival in Australia, celebrating its 65th birthday in 2010.  There's a costume parade at school tomorrow.  Little Wanna wants to go as Amelia Bedelia and Charly as Molly Moon.  Both impossible costumes to devise with my limited skill and materials.  We do have Groucho Marx glasses and plenty of fairy outfits plus an auburn wig and Chinese pajamas.  Mmm ... I'm thinking the cast of Pink Panther or Scooby Doo. 

Audio Books in the Car

Swimming lessons resumed tonight and for the 30 minute journey across to the Australian Institute of Sport, we are listening to Morris Gleitzman's book, Girl Underground, read by Mary-Anne Fahey (I can hear nothing but Kylie Mole - her comedic alter-ego which is extremely off-putting). 

We love audio-books in the car.  So far we have listened to lots of Morris Gleitzman who writes in shocking Aussie vernacular for a target audience realistically of 8 years and up.  Poor little Wanna just perseveres in the back seat, rather grumpily contesting the choice and demanding something more interesting next time.   It will take us three swimming lessons to complete the entire book.

We have also listened to a reading of The Famour Five Five Got To Mystery Moor which had us jolly well captivated and also shocked at the frequency with which they call each other 'idiots' - in that polite plummy English way, of course.

Oh must off, Charly and I are about to watch 17 Again ... again.  That Zac Ephron!

Flipbooks : Tribute to Lynne, the BBW and No 5

We wanted to post these pictures for our favourite book illustrator, Lynne Chapman - way over there in Sheffield UK - who drew the beautiful pastel pictures in this very book we are holding, The Big Bad Wolf is Good. 

When I took these photos and scrolled through them, they reminded me of flipbooks - the set of still images you flick over to make a continuous moving picture. Before movies were invented there were a number of optical devices that produced animation effects like this. With weird and unpronounceable names such as thaumatrope, phenakistoscope, zoetrope, and praxinoscope, these devices let you view a spinning card with small images on it, each like a single frame in an animated movie. It has always fascinated me, this movie projecting business, and I found these neat facts on The Science Explorer.

If a light is flashing on and off more than thirty times a second, you see it as a steady light--you don't notice the flickering. When you watch a movie, the light from the projector is flickering 72 times a second. Your eye and brain blend the flickering frames of the movie to make a single moving picture.

When you look at a picture, then quickly flip to another picture, your eye and brain remember the first picture for a fraction of a second, and blend it with the second picture. This visual ability, known as persistence of vision, makes the pictures in movies appear to move.

Isn't that amazing trickery?

Now for scene two of our flipbook.  Here we are with Duckling No 5. who always makes us cry!  He's lost his Mummy. Happy faces.  Sad faces!  Lynne kindly posted the original drawing of No 5 on her blog especially for us.  Sniff, sniff!

 

 

 

  

Note: no wolves or ducklings were harmed in the making of this movie.

My Molly Moon

Charley will turn 10 in August. She's a beautiful, easy-going soul, very attuned to other people's feelings and able to break through the most irresponsive and grumpy disposition and sweeten the foulest of moods, including my dinner-time rants and the regular indignant outbursts by her little sister - a godsend to a mother and a gift to a sibling.

 She's not a girly-girl. Her hair is either bunched in a ponytail or loosely side-parted. Long denim shorts or black legging and T-shirts are her preferred dress for all occasions.  She'd rather swim and go on adventures than shop or fuss with frills and potions. She plays soccer not netball. She won't wear a watch or do her nails or carry a bag or wear a jumper unless it's sub-zero. She relishes slap-stick humour and has her generation's easy affinity with new technology - happy as a clam with small screens, scroll buttons, arrow keys and animation.

Her very favourite book character at the moment is Molly Moon - orphan, a time traveler, master hypnotist, mind reader and eponymous heroine of five stories by British author, Georgia Byng.

Molly Moon's Incredible Book of Hypnotism

Molly Moon Stops the World

Molly Moon's Hypnotic Time Travel Adventure

Molly Moon, Micky Minus and the Mind Machine

and the latest release, grabbed with glee from the book shelves of Big W, 

Molly Moon and the Morphing Mystery.

According to one reviewer, they are profoundly moral children's stories about exploitation, character, and learning to care for people.

Perhaps Charly sees something of herself in Molly; I think I do.

Books by Georgia Byng

Books Bought and Borrowed: Children

... "If you don't stop being silly this minute," he roared, "I will eat you, so there!"...

One of our all time favourite books, read incessantly, and repeatedly in the one sitting, is Simon Puttock's Big, Bad Wolf is Good, (Koala Books, 2001).  The story seeks to redeem the reputation of wolves by introducing us to one particular wolf who sets forth to be good, and helpful, and to do a noble deed, in order to gain some friends.  This is not, however, rather predictably, an easy quest. On each successive attempt, the object of his good intentions shoos him away not trusting a self-styled, reformed wolf. The mother goose, chicken and duck and their broods all rush inside their houses, slam the door and make faces through the window chanting "Big Bad Wolf, stay away and DON'T come back another day!" 

Children love the repetitive element of the narrative with its parallel to the classic The Three Little Pigs. They understand the wolf-as-villian stereotype but sympathise with our wolf's innocent frustration. In the end, he proves he's really just a big, old softie when he comes across tearful, lost duckling Number Five and scoops him up and takes him home unharmed.  Mrs Duck is forced to acknowled his noble deed and invites him in for tea, where he has a rollicking good time playing with the ducklings and savouring his newly formed friendship.  A satisfying, happy ending.

The illustrations by British artist, Lynne Chapman, really make the book.  The pastel drawings are crisp and comical, the colours bright and appealing. The cartoon-style characters are endearing.  For pre-schoolers and early readers the visual element of a  book is key to their enjoyment and this book cleverly marries text and image so that children are also capable of  'reading' it to themselves.

We so enjoyed this book, that we hunted out others by the charming, Edinbugh-based Mr Puttock and discovered there are more than thirty which look equally as delicious. 

My overactive imagination, after the umpteenth reading and over three childhoods, has started to muse on the possibility of a romantic sequel. Mrs Duck, the single parent, and her unlikely suitor. There are certain to be literary archetypes or leading man-leading lady stock characters which could be exploited, and the two ARE last seen in an affectionate embrace.

The character of the villanous Big Bad Wolf (BBW) originates in several folkloric stories, including some of Aesop's Fables and Grimm's Fairy Tales.  In 1933, the BBW made his Disney film debut as a properly rounded character and went on to appear seven more times, never, of course, learning his lesson.

Source: Disney Archives

Tania, Riley and the Dancing Lion ... and Us

Foreign Lands
by Robert Louis Stevenson

Up into the cherry tree
Who should climb but little me?
I held the trunk with both my hands
And looked abroad on foreign lands.

I saw the next door garden lie,
Adorned with flowers, before my eye,
And many pleasant places more
That I had never seen before.

If I could find a higher tree
Farther and farther I should see,
To where the grown-up river slips
Into the sea among the ships.

To where the roads on either hand
Lead onward into fairy land,
Where all the children dine at five,
And all the playthings come alive.

We met Tania McCartney, author of Riley and the Dancing Lion, at the Handmade Markets in Canberra after stalking err... I mean admiring... her blog for some time. We were delighted to make her acquaintance and convey our effusive enthusiam for her writing, and partake of a candy cane from her impeccable stall. But while we were busy declaring our fanatical addiction to her blog and revealing our mutual acquaintance with Shazza, and suggesting a Canberra sequel to her other book, Beijing Tai Tai, and putting our name down to buy a copy of her planned chapter book and heaping praise on her skill as a party planner, we completely failed to inspect the book or buy a thing! So, off to the official launch we shall go with every intention of putting our money where our mouth is, and requesting a signed copy.

Little Wanna had such fun that night colouring-in a sheet depicting one of the exquisite illustrations from Riley and the Dancing Lion. Which just goes to prove that the book is a winner with its intended audience. We look forward to reading it in full and flying off to a foreign land.