Doubting Thomas

Doubting Thomas
by Morris Gleitzman


Thomas is mortified, it just isn't funny at all! It shouldn't happen to a decent human being!

Morris has itchy nipples!

Very, very itchy nipples!

It is a secret that Thomas is keen to keep to himself, but soon Thomas realises that his nipples have a special talent, they can tell when people are lying. Thomas secret leads him to adventure with his friends in Paris.

This is such a funny book! I urge you to pick it up sometime soon.

Knife

Knife
by R.J. Anderson

Knife is a fairy or faery as they prefer to be known, but not a cute, sweet faery. Knife is a hunter. She lives in an old oak tree with more of her kind. They are not a friendly bunch, but they only have each other, as they battle to survive against humans and the wild animals that roam around their sacred oak. But, Knife is curious about the outside world and soon she goes against the wishes of the faery Queen and ventures further and further away from the oak, drawn by the lure of the humans who live in the house at the bottom of the garden. Knife soon realises that the humans are not the evil beings that the Queen has made them out to be and is intrigued. Knife ventures into their home, where she is captured by the human boy Paul. As their friendship develops, Knife tries to discover why the faeries are losing their magic and why the faeries hate the humans with such a vigour.

This is a fabulously gripping read that would be enjoyed by both boys and girls. It has an alternative title in the US/Canada - Faery Rebel: Spell Hunter and will be followed up by a second book - Rebel in 2010.

Al Capone Shines My Shoes

Al Capone Shines My Shoes
by Gennifer Choldenko

This is the continuing story of Twelve year old Moose Flanagan which began in Al Capone Does My Shirts.

The story unfolds as Moose arrives with his family to live on the infamous island of Alcatraz. His father is a warden and this is a fresh start for the family (Moose, his sister Natalie, who is autistic, his mother and his father). Moose and his family share the island with the other wardens, their families and some rather famous criminals such as Al Capone.

Moose loves playing baseball and hanging out with his friends, but more often than not he finds himself looking after his sister. The family all hope that her move to a new school will make life a little better for Natalie and although Moose loves his sister, he would like some time for himself.

Before long Moose becomes embroiled with Al Capone. Is this a big mistake? Only time will tell.

Al Capone Shines My Shoes

Yes! It was a big mistake for Moose to ask a favour of Al Capone! Now it's payback time. Al Capone helped Natalie to gain a place in a special school and now he wants some help from Moose. Help that Moose really doesn't want to give. The story takes a gripping turn as Moose gets caught up in plans put in place by some of the island's most dangerous criminals, which puts his own life and that of his friends in danger.

Eating Things on Sticks

Eating Things on Sticks
by Anne Fine

Such a great title for a book, don't you think? It intrigued me as soon as I read it. Of course, I don't plan to reveal what those things on sticks are, that would just spoil the fun, but I will tell you a little about the story.

This is the latest offering from past Children's Laureate, Anne Fine and I do enjoy an Anne Fine book, although there have been one or two over the years that I haven't been so keen on. I suppose it is a case of "you can't please all of the people, all of the time!". Saying that, most of them are pretty darn good and Eating Things on Sticks is one of the gems.

On another note, Eating Things on Sticks has been shortlisted for the Roald Dahl Funny Prize 2009 in the 7-14 age category. The £2,500 prize was founded in 2008 by Michael Rosen as part of his Children’s Laureateship to honour those books that make children laugh. The winner will be announced on 10th November.

Anyway, back to the story!

Eating Things on Sticks is the story of a boy named Harry. To call Harry accident prone, would be an understatement! The story opens and Harry has just burned down the family kitchen. Harry is left feeling a bit astonished that it happened and woebegone at the outcome. Harry's mum wants to send Harry away to live with his Aunt, while the kitchen is rebuilt. The last thing Harry wants to do is live with his Aunt Susan. Aunt Susan takes him on long nature walks and that is bad enough, but spending any time with his lisping, frilly frock wearing cousin Titania, just doesn't bear thinking about at all.

Harry manages to persuade his mum to let him stay with his Uncle Tristram. Next, Uncle Tristram has to be persuaded, but a little blackmailing later and Harry is on his way to a remote British Island to spend the summer with Uncle Tristram and his dotty girlfriend Morning Glory.

Did I mention Harry is accident prone? Yes? Well, as you can imagine, Harry stumbles from one disaster to another whilst on the island.

Angels, men with funny beards, helicopters and eating funny things on sticks.

A must read! Very funny.

Hate That Cat

Hate That Cat
by Sharon Creech

Well, I love cats, but I didn't let it put me off picking up this book. I always eagerly await any new offering by Sharon Creech, so I was very happy to see this new title.

Hate that Cat picks up the story of a boy called Jack and his ventures into poetry. The story began in Love That Dog, with a very reluctant young boy and a very keen teacher, who is eager to share the joy of poetry with her class. Both books are written in rhyme, which is quite refreshing and both follow the story of Jack through his own poems. At the start of Love That Dog, we learn that Jack hates poetry, or thinks he does, his first poems are very short and disgruntled, but as we move through the book, we can see an interest in poetry developing and we learn more about his family and his beloved dog.

Hate That Cat picks up the story with a new school year and Jack moving into a new class. Jack is very relieved to see teacher has moved classes with him, "You understand my brain," Jack says to Miss Stretchberry. And so the new year continues though Jack's poems, but this time Jack is focused on a neighbourhood cat he really dislikes, no lets make that hate, well to begin with anyway.

These are quick reads that are well worth picking up.

And on a final note, I cannot end a post on cats without a reference to Simon's cats. So here is an old favourite for you to enjoy.

Gentle's Holler

Gentle's Holler
by Kerry Madden


This is a truly exquisite family tale set in sixties North Carolina, although it feels much earlier to me. I would draw comparisons to Little House on the Prairie, when it comes to lifestyle, although the fact the family have a car is a bit of a giveaway to a later era.

The story is told by twelve year old Livy Two, who is a real bookworm and a bit of a tomboy. She likes nothing better than to climb a tree and read a good book, in peace. Unfortunately, peace is scarce in this family of 2 boys and 8 girls, and Livy Two is often called on to help with the chores and to look after the other children, especially her little sister Gentle who as the family put it has eyes that “don’t work so good yet."

Life is tough for the family. Dad is a dreamer, who doesn't provide much for the family, a banjo player by trade, he is waiting to become the next big thing, unfortunately, this doesn't pay the bills and the family live on the produce from their garden. Mum knits like crazy to try and bring a bit of money in and tries to keep her family's spirits up. The highlight of the family's month is when the mobile library visits.

Things come to a head when mum becomes pregnant again and grandma comes to stay. Grandma insists that Gentle go see a professional to check out her eyes and their worst suspicions are confirmed. Gentle is blind. This bad news galvanises the family into action and the children set about training their goofy dachshund to become a seeing eye dog. It seems like the family will be fine, but then tragedy strikes.

If you feel in the mood for a lovely, gentle tale of family life, with a bit of drama thrown in then these are the books for you. Great rainy day reading.

I am looking forward to read the continuing adventures of Livy Two and her family in the next two episodes of the Maggie Valley Series Louisianna's Song and Jessie's Mountain.

The Secret of the Dread Forest

The Secret of the Dread Forest
by Gillian Summers

Keelie has reluctantly travelled to the Dread Forest with her dad. The Dread Forest is home to Keelie's haughty grandmother, who doesn't approve of Keelie because she is half elf and half human. For that matter, none of the other elves approve of Keelie either.

How is she going to survive in this unfriendly place with only her grouchy guardian cat Knot and a demanding treeling for company. Even her gorgeous, would-be boyfriend Sean o' the Woods is no longer interested in her.

Things start to look up for Keelie when she begins sword fighting lessons, although her tutor is less than could be desired, but with the good there comes the bad and once more Keelie is called upon to save an ailing forest.

This is book three in this wonderful, hard-to-put-down series.

Book 1 The Tree Shepherd's Daughter
Book 2 Into the Wildewood
Book 3 Secret of the Dread Forest

Keelie's adventures are due to continue in a new trilogy - The Scions of Shadow. I will keep you updated on it's publication.

Picture Book Picks

Penguin
by Polly Dunbar

I can't say enough about this book! I just love it. It is a lovely, gentle tale of a boy called Ben who opens a gift and finds a penguin inside. A real penguin, not a toy. The whole story revolves around the boy trying to persuade the penguin to speak to him. He moves from gentle persuasion to more rather aggressive techniques.

It is a really charming book, which is beautifully illustrated by the author and very humourous! I think it is the facial expressions that just crack me up. They make me laugh every time.




Dogs on the Bed
by Elizabeth Bluemle


This is the first book I have come across by this author, but I am mightily impressed. Dogs on the Bed is a story many of you may be familiar with if you have either a dog or a cat and the night-time campaigns they mount to take over your bed, be they allowed there or not. The shoving and gradual take over of the bed until you are pushed out.

This story has a lovely rhythmic flow to it and amusing illustrations by Anne Wilsdorf. I found I was telling the story to the voice and rhythm of the last Children's Laureate Michael Rosen. I don't know, it just felt like one of his poems and I hear his voice as I read it, which probably influences my storytelling of this book.

Here's a little taster of Michael Rosen, a very funny man and a great poet.



Just in case you missed the news, Anthony Browne is the new Children's Laureate and will hold the post until 2010. He took over the post from Michael Rosen who held it from 2007 to 2009.

You can find out more about the new Children's Laureate and previous Laureates here.

Into the Wildewood

Into the Wildewood
by Gillian Summers

Yay! I finally got my hands on book two of the Faire Folk Trilogy and guess what? It is even better than the first book.

Keelie has moved on with her father to the Wildewood Renaissance Faire and is living in his dinky little homemade cabin. It is not an ideal situation as far as Keelie is concerned. It is so small that you couldn't even swing a cat in it, although you would never want to try that out with Knot. He would have your hand off!

Still there is plenty to occupy Keelie. On her first day at the faire Keelie makes the mistake of ordering a pair of the most beautiful, hand crafted, leather boots. It is love at first sight and she has to have them, but she soon learns the error of her ways when her dad says she must take a job at the faire to pay for them. And so begins a comedy of truly dreadful jobs, beginning with a giant purple dragon suit that smells of sick. Yeugh!

All is not well at this faire, the trees are angry and blocking Keelie and there is a strange white cat following her about. What is making the trees so angry and how is she going to explain her rather strange gifts to her friend Laurie, when she arrives for the summer?

I just can't wait for the next book. It is scheduled to be out in the Summer. Let's hope the UK publication isn't too far behind that.

Breaking News
Book three The Secret of the Dread Forest is out on the 1st of July and just to top off that good news, Gillian Summers has just announced that she has signed up to write another three books about Keelie.

Dumb Creatures

Dumb Creatures
by Jeanne Willis

This is a short book, but a memorable one. The main character is eleven year old Tom. Tom can hear, but he can't speak. He has a lot to say about everything, but the only way he can communicate is by sign language. It is all very frustrating! He can have a conversation with his teacher, but his classmates don't make the effort to learn sign language and even more infuriating, they talk to Tom as if he is stupid. Tom isn't stupid, in fact he is very smart.

Tom loves visiting the zoo. It is the one place he feels really content. Tom can even tell how the animals are feeling by watching their body language. One day Tom is at the gorilla enclosure with his mother, when the female gorilla Zanzi points at Tom's mother who is pregnant and signs to Tom, "Baby". Tom's mother is leaning against the enclosure resting, with her eyes closed, so she doesn't see, but Tom does. He wonders if he has imagined the whole thing, but then Zanzi points to her own stomach and signs "baby here too".

Tom keeps Zanzi's secret. She doesn't want anyone to know, not even the zoo keeper, but when Zanzi's baby goes missing Tom decides it is time to speak out.