The Emerald Casket: The Billionaire Trilogy Book II
by Richard Newsome. p/b $19.95
I thought it would be appropriate to include an author who will be a guest speaker for the upcoming ‘Voices on the Coast’. This book follows on from the first in the series which was a wonderful adventure involving a missing diamond, a vast inheritance and some engaging characters. In this, the sequel, Gerald and his friends go on a holiday which unfolds into another adventure where they will need to beat time and criminals. There is also a good dose of humour amongst the suspense to captivate any reader.
Suitable for boys & girls aged 10+
Feathers for Phoebe
by Rod Clement. Angus & Robertson.
h/b $25.00
Most of you may know Rod Clement as a popular Australian author/ illustrator having produced such gems as “Olga the Brolga”, “Edward the Emu” and my personal favourite “Grandad’s Teeth”. He does not disappoint with this fun story about a rather plain brown bird who visits Zelda, the colourful bird who runs the beauty salon in the forest, to become more exotic. After some fun and dangerous antics, he finally meets up with another small grey bird.
Suitable for children 2-5 years of age.
Violet Mackerel’s Brilliant Plot
by Anna Branford. Walker Books. h/b $19.95
This is a charming new series of books aimed at girls who are just beginning to read chapter books. There is a good balance of text and illustration to keep the child engaged before embarking on books with ‘no pictures’. They are well-presented books as the covers are sweet without being too nostalgic or old-fashioned. In this story, Violet decides she would really like to buy a blue china bird from a stall at the market where her mother works. She devises what she believes is a ‘brilliant plot’ but manages to achieve much more than her original goal. It is refreshing to find a book for girls that is appealing without needing to be fantasy or something which is not ‘age appropriate’ for this target audience. Being hardback it would make a lovely gift.
Suitable for girls aged 6-9.
Being Billy
by Phil Earle. Penguin. p/b $16.95
This book is well worth a read for teenagers and adults. It gives so much insight into the reason why some youth are so angry and behave the way they do. Billy is what he refers to as ‘a lifer’ which means he has been in care of some sort for most of his life. He doesn’t really care about anything except for his younger brother and sister for whom he feels a great sense of responsibility. As he begins to make friends with a girl of similar circumstances you gradually see his background unfold and you begin to empathise with his plight. The author was once employed as a care worker in a children’s home which explains his understanding of the situation and his brilliant portrayal of the one person who seems to really care about Billy, the staff member, Ronnie. It is a difficult process but gradually Billy begins to realise that Ronnie is not the enemy but someone who can really make a difference to his life. There is an interesting twist to the story which I will not reveal but which brings about a dramatic ending.
Suitable for ages 15+
Our Family’s Changed
This book is part of a series the government has published, through the Human Services Portfolio. It is aimed at children under 12, to help them understand and cope with the dramatic changes they face when their parents separate or divorce. Zoe and Seb are the loveable characters whose emotional journeys we follow. The whole range of emotions and fears a child might face, are addressed. It finishes with the comforting message, “Seb and Zoe knew one thing would never change – their parents would always love them and they would always love their parents! The book is interactive, with puzzles and activities for children to do and comes with a set of colouring pencils. To order these or other free Child Support Agency (CSA) publications go to: www.csa.gov.au/publications/ and www.youth.csa.gov.au/
Suitable for children 12 and under whose family situation has recently changed.
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