Kid's Picks

Picture books

Good Night, Sleep Tight. Mem Fox

This delightful book is cleverly written to incorporate several traditional rhymes into a rhyming story about bedtime. Readers will enjoy being reminded of these short, catchy and popular poems which are accompanied by colourful eye-catching illustrations. Written with the very young in mind this is another winner from this well-known author. Perfect bedtime reading.

Salma the Syrian Chef. Danny Ramadan

Salma and her mother have travelled all the way from Syria to settle in a new country. Life is difficult, especially for Salma's mother who is very sad because Salma’s father is yet to join them. Salma tries hard to cheer her up and finally works out how she can.  With the help of her new friends she manages to gather the ingredients for a favourite dish from their homeland. It isn’t easy to cook however eventually she manages to make her mother smile when she presents her with the delicious Jordanian meal.

Books for readers aged 7–9 years

The Worst Class in the World. Joanna Nadin

According to the school principal, 4B is the worst class in the world. That might be a slight exaggeration, but if the hilarious stories in this book are a true reflection of what happens there, classroom life in 4B is completely chaotic. This hilarious story is accompanied by quirky and humorous illustrations on nearly every page. Once this has been devoured readers will definitely want to move on to the sequel, The Worst Class in the World Get Worse for more laugh out loud moments.

Eliza Vanda’s Button Box. Emily Rodda
[this book is on order, and will appear in the catalogue as soon as we receive it]

The first time young Milly Dynes looks at Eliza Vanda she feels a little jolt like an electric shock. Looking out the window of her house at Tidgy Bay she is amazed to see a small woman in a green cloak with two bulging green bags standing in the rain. No car, no bus, no taxi - she appears out of nowhere as if by magic. Eliza needs a place to stay, and the cabins Milly and her dad Rory rent out are the perfect place for the mysterious dressmaker to finish her work. And, just like that, Milly’s quiet little life by the sea gets a whole lot more interesting.

Eliza is a mysterious and intriguing guest. Think Mary Poppins and a zany Mrs Doubtfire. Even Milly’s nasty neighbour’s cat Sultan is obsessed with Eliza Vanda and can’t keep away from her cabin. However, she’s just the sort of friend Milly needs and she happily volunteers to assist Eliza when the occasion arises. But nothing will prepare Milly for what this actually entails, and the reason why Sultan is obsessed is just one of the strange things that Eliza’s cabin hides.

This is a magical tale full of adventure, fantasy, friendship, resilience and family – it is a great read for young people aged 8+

Books for readers aged 10+

The Hatmakers. Tamzin Merchant

Cordelia comes from a very special family who have been in the hat making business for many generations. They are so well thought of that members of the royal family are some of their customers. Not only are their hats beautiful, they are also made from magical ingredients. The hat makers  are skilled at knowing just what sort of magical ingredients to use to create the best hat for the individual it is being made for. While Cordelia is searching for her father, who has become lost at sea, more troubles appear on the horizon. This is an exciting and entertaining story.

Echo Mountain. Lauren Wolk

This story is set in America during the 1930s, a time when a lot of people were suffering from poverty.

Ella and her family have been forced to leave their house in town and have moved up to the mountains to start over again, living in a shack and having to make do with the little they were able take with them. Not long after the move, Ella’s father is hit on the head by a falling tree. He falls into a deep coma and the family has no idea whether he will ever wake up. Frustrated by this and the gentle ways her mother is caring for him Ella decides on a more radical approach.

This is a riveting story about courage and survival in a place where isolation and the presence of bears and snakes are some of the challenges this pioneering community must contend with.  This is a really great read.