Kids' Picks

The following are available to borrow online.

Picture books

Mabel: a mermaid fable.  Rowboat Watkins
Mabel lives a good life in the sea with her family.  Everything seems perfect.   However Mabel has a problem: she doesn't have a mustache.  Everybody else seems to have one, even her baby brother.  Mabel is so ashamed that she hides away, trying not to be seen.  Then one day she meets Lucky, an octopus.  He doesn't have mustache either.  They become great friends and eventually Mabel finds a solution to her problem.  This is a really quirky and hilarious story from the well known author of Rude Cakes, Most Marshmallows and Pete with no Pants. It is full of colourful and entertaining illustrations.  

The Little Refugee.  Anh Do and Suzanne Doh
This is the true story of a family who leave their crowded home in Vietnam to escape post-war dangers.  Together they travel on a small and very full boat, in search of a better life.  It is a frightening journey and the refugees survive a terrible storm during which they lose all their food and water.  Soon after that their boat is boarded by pirates.  They fear for their lives.  However they are rescued when a German ship comes upon them.  They eventually make their way to Australia where they settle and are able to make new lives.  The book is full of interesting and beautiful drawings.  This is a picture book that is suitable for primary school-aged children.

Fiction 6-8

Scary Mary and the Stripe Spell.  Emily Rodda; Read by Edward Degas
Monty's Island is full of happy creatures: a lion, magicians, argue birds, a shipwrecked pirate and many more.  They spend there days enjoying the sunshine, beach combing and meeting friends  at the cafe.  Life seems idyllic.  However danger is on the horizon in the form of a witch, Scary Mary.  She first appears on her broomstick high up in the sky above the island and then on a pirate ship coming their way.  She is looking for a new place to call home.  With their idyllic lifestyles threatened the inhabitants of Monty's Island quickly band together to form a plan.  Luckily the island is full of useful magic.  Can the witches defeat the evil witch?  This is a quirky and entertaining story that will appeal to young children.  The talking book version is available online.  

Fiction 8-10

The Simple Things.  Bill Condon
Stephen's parents have taken him to stay with their Aunt Lola. It is a long overdue visit and Stephen is pretty nervous about meeting his aging relative.  She will be turning eighty and Stephen's family have offered to take her home with them and to look after her.  At first Aunt Lola is scarily cantankerous however Stephen becomes very fond of her, despite her odd little ways.  This is a funny and heartwarming story told through the eyes of a ten year old boy.