Karen Comer

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Adult fiction – Christmas ideas and a giveaway

December 8, 2017 by Karen Comer 18 Comments

Finally, it’s time to talk about adult fiction books for Christmas! Some people like to read something light and frothy at the beach over summer, some like a thrilling page-turner, others like to read something with depth. I’ve tried to cater for all types of summer readers in the list below.

Ache by Eliza Henry-Jones – Despite all the hype about fast-paced, page-turning books, I love a gentle quiet story. Eliza writes with sensitivity and depth – her debut Australian novel, In the quiet, moved me to tears. Ache focuses on the devastation that can occur within communities after a trauma like a bushfire. This is the story of four strong women within four generations, focusing on Annie, who goes back to her home to help after the bushfire. She grieves for her recently deceased grandmother, is exasperated by her mother and cares for her daughter. You can read my interview with Eliza here.

My name is Lucy Barton/ Anything is possible by Elizabeth Strout – I’m so glad I read both these books this year. I’m going to borrow the rest of her books from the library over summer. Strout writes with so much perception and empathy. My name is Lucy Barton is a novel, and Anything is possible could be read either as a novel about the people in Lucy Barton’s hometown or as a collection of short stories about characters whose lives intersect. It really doesn’t matter which book you read first, but you’ll probably want to read both of them. Strout’s books, like Eliza Henry-Jones’ books, are quiet and they shine with such knowledge about the human condition.

Force of nature by Jane Harper – this is the second book by Harper. Her first book, The dry, sold well in Australia and is going to be made into a film. The protagonist from The dry is also the lead character in Force of Nature but it’s not a sequel so can be read independently. This one is a page-turning, suspenseful read about a group of four women who are on a corporate bushwalking event – but only three return. The book is told from several perspectives which makes it interesting to read as the story unfolds.

The choke by Sofie Laguna – this book is a worthy successor to The eye of the sheep, which won Sofie the Miles Franklin award in 2015. Again, we have a child protagonist in ten-year-old Justine, who lives with her Pop and sometimes her half-brothers. Her Mum disappeared years ago and her Dad blows in and out. Sofie does a fabulous job in creating a strong world, where everything is seen through Justine’s eyes. I found myself reading it with my hand almost on my heart – please don’t let this happen to Justine… But despite the grimness of her world, there is hope, particularly through the wonderful characters.

Truly, madly, guilty by Liane Moriarty – if you haven’t already read this one, this is great for light summer reading. The story focuses on the friendship between two women, Clementine and Erika. We know that something happened at the barbeque at Erika’s neighbours’ house, but we don’t know what exactly it is. The suspense was definitely drawn out for much longer than it needed to, but Moriarty is fabulously wicked and insightful with her character descriptions which pull you right into her fictional world. All the characters are presented with light and shade, so as readers you both empathise with them and feel frustrated in equal parts. And if you haven’t read any of Moriarty’s earlier books, they would all make fabulous summer reading, too.

Our souls at night by Kent Haruf – this is a lovely, gentle read about Addie and Louis who have been neighbours for years, still living in their family homes after their respective partners have died and their children moved out. It’s a beautiful love story, full of shared stories. Their conversations offer hope and illuminate the everyday courage and resilience of ordinary people.

The passage of love by Alex Miller – this is one I haven’t read yet but I’m looking forward to reading, despite reading a slightly negative review. I enjoyed Miller’s earlier book, Lovesong, so I’m keen to see what this one is like. This synopsis is taken from the book –

At twenty-one years, Robert Crofts leaves his broken dreams in Far North Queensland, finally stopping in Melbourne almost destitute. It’s there he begins to understand how books and writing might be the saving of him. They will be how he leaves his mark on the world. He also begins to understand how many obstacles there will be to thwart his ambition.

When Robert is introduced to Lena Soren, beautiful, rich and educated, his life takes a very different path. But in the intimacy of their connection lies an unknowability that both torments and tantalises as Robert and Lena long for something that neither can provide for the other.

In a rich blend of thoughtful and beautifully observed writing, the lives of a husband and wife are laid bare in their passionate struggle to engage with their individual creativity.

The museum of modern love by Heather Rose – this book about art and love won the Stella prize this year. It’s a novel but it’s based on Marina Abramovic, the Serbian artist who spent 75 days in a New York gallery, sitting with strangers, for her exhibition, The artist is present. There are a few different perspectives – Arky Levin, the composer whose wife is no longer with him, Jane, whose husband died a little while ago, Marina herself, and a few minor characters. The whole concept of sitting still and gazing intensely into different strangers’ eyes, over and over, for 75 days is astounding, and Rose’s book does it justice. Other reviewers, like my friend Carolyn, have noted disappointments in the New York setting – mobile phones instead of cell phones for example. It is a literary novel, with frequent switches between character viewpoints.

The art of wellbeing by Meredith Gaston – this non-fiction book would make a delightful present. I’ve already bought it for someone and I’m hoping a copy might find its way into my stocking! Gaston is an illustrator, and has written and illustrated a couple of books like The art of gratitude. The art of wellbeing continues her same, unmistakable style with gorgeous girls outlined in black pen with splashes of colour. There are recipes for smoothies and activating nuts, as well as reflections on mindfulness. The sections are called lovely names such as nourish, blossom, comfort, energise. This would be a beautiful book to dip in and out of during summer.

The time traveler’s wife by Audrey Niffenegger – this book was one of the most original, amazing love stories I’ve read. Henry is a time traveller – he has been since he was a small boy. His wife Clare meets him when she is young and he is one of his older time travelling selves. Henry’s life is unorthodox and only Clare at first knows he time travels. The book flicks between the different times and different ages of both Henry and Clare. As a reader, I had a sense of impending doom and the ending was sad. It’s one of those books that you want to read quickly because it’s such a page-turner but you also want to read slowly because you don’t want it to finish. The book was published in 2003 so it’s been around for a while, and there is a movie now. I can’t decide whether I want to see the movie or not – it might completely spoil the story for me!

Please pass this post on to anyone who may be looking for suggestions for adult fiction books to read or buy over Christmas.

I have a copy of The Choke by Sofie Laguna to send to one lucky reader. Keep it yourself or give it as a Christmas present. To enter, please make sure you have subscribed to my blog and leave a comment on this post with a reading suggestion for me over the summer holidays. Comments must be posted by next Thursday 14th December. The winner will be announced next Friday 15th December in that day’s blog post. Good luck!

Filed Under: Adult Fiction Tagged With: adult fiction, book review, Christmas shopping

Christmas book ideas for 5-8 year-olds

November 17, 2017 by Karen Comer 4 Comments

For 5-8 year-old readers, I have a list of book series. Kids at this age love to read books again and again. They’ll begin with listening to an adult read the whole book, then they might take it in turns to read a few pages, then they can read it to themselves.

Kids are avid collectors, so introducing them to a series they like is a way to encourage a love of reading. If you’re not sure whether your child or grandchild will like a particular series, you can always borrow the first book from the library before buying some of the series. (My wise Mum borrowed the first Billabong book for me, then surprised me with the complete set for my 11th birthday!)

Diary of a wimpy kid – The Getaway by Jeff Kinney – this is the latest book in this series about Greg, who doodles in the pages of his diary as he records his life’s adventures. This book, number 12 in the series, is about Greg and his family on holidays – perfect summer reading!

Juliet, nearly a vet by Rebecca Johnson – I haven’t read these books but I flicked through them in a bookshop this week, and I love the concept of a little girl who wants to be a vet and has to practise looking after animals.

The bad guys by Aaron Blabey – now we’re up to book 6. These books are well illustrated so kids won’t be daunted by a lot of text on the page. A great series for boys about Mr Wolf, Mr Piranha, Mr Snake and Mr Shark who are trying so hard to be the good guys instead of the bad guys – pretty difficult when your name and looks come with such a reputation!

Famous Five collection by Enid Blyton – there are some lovely box sets of The famous five and The secret seven books available. If you want to share your childhood reading favourites with your own kids, one of these box sets might be a present for you and your kids!

Weir Do by Anh Do – another series suitable for both boys and girls. Anh Do has now published his 8th book in this series. Comedians do have a fantastic way of crafting a story – both on the page and on stage – and Anh Do is no exception. Lots of humour, big illustrations and relatable situations for this age group.

How to tame a dragon by Cressida Cowell – your kids might be familiar with these books even if they haven’t read them because of the movies. There are now 12 books in the series about Hiccup, a reluctant hero, and his dragon Toothless. The text is interspersed with lists, book pages and instructions so it’s a great ‘bigger’ chapter book for proficient 7-9 year-old readers.

Billie B Brown gift sets by Sally Rippin – Billie B Brown needs no introduction. This box set might be a lovely surprise in a Christmas stocking. There are also box sets with single books and a tie-in toy, like a skipping rope as well. We have many, many Billie B Brown books at home – Miss 11 read them again and again and again.

Tashi by Anna Fienberg – all my kids loved Tashi. He’s such a loveable character and has so many amazing adventures. This is a beautiful box set.

Tiny Timmy by Tim Cahil – this series focuses on a small kid called Timmy, who wants to be a soccer star. Lots of sport specific information and positive messages – perfect for the budding soccer star!

Fancy Nancy by Jane O’Connor – Miss 11 and I loved, loved, loved Fancy Nancy. We started off reading about Nancy in picture books when Miss 11 was a toddler, then she graduated to the Fancy Nancy I can read series when she started school. This is such a wonderful series for girls who are practising reading

I hope you find a new series or are inspired to add to an existing set. Please forward on this post to any friends who might also be looking for some Christmas book ideas.

 

 

Filed Under: Children's Fiction Tagged With: children's fiction, Christmas books, Christmas shopping

Christmas book ideas for 9-12 year-old girls

November 3, 2017 by Karen Comer 2 Comments

It’s seven and a half weeks until Christmas – gulp! In order to make your Christmas shopping a little easier, I am putting together a few lists of books to buy for different age groups over the next few weeks.

A book is an easy thing to buy – it doesn’t take up a lot of room if you need to hide it. It doesn’t require batteries. It won’t make a noise. It can be shared. It’s a conversation starter. It will entertain for hours. It can be returned to again and again, like an old friend.

Today’s list is for girls aged 9-12 years. Of course, these books may be suitable for girls slightly younger or older. And just because the main characters in these books are girls, doesn’t mean that boys can’t read them.

The girl who drank the moon by Kelly Barnhill – this could almost be my favourite children’s book of the year. It’s about a village who sacrifice the youngest-born baby each year by taking it into the wood and leaving it there for the witch to take. In return, she stays away from the villagers. There is a witch but she’s a kind one and she believes she rescues the babies by taking them to another village on the other side of the bog and giving them to a loving family. One year, she is so enchanted by the baby that she accidentally pulls moonlight down from the sky and ‘magics’ the baby girl. She knows she must keep the girl herself now and teach her how to use her magic wisely. It is such a beautiful story, with lovely language and quirky, loveable characters who draw on their strengths in remarkable ways. Strong readers will gather all the insights and appreciate the language while less confident readers will simply love the story – something for everyone.

The extremely inconvenient adventures of Bronte Mettlestone by Jaclyn Moriarty – I haven’t read this book yet but I heard a great interview with Jaclyn on the So you want to be a writer podcast which made me want to go and read it! Bronte’s parents have been killed by pirates (but she didn’t know them) and she has to follow their wishes and deliver a trunk of presents to ten different aunts – otherwise terrible things will happen to her home. It sounds like an adventure of magic and courage – a fabulous combination for a story. Maybe it sounds so intriguing to me because Jaclyn said she started the book by wroting each chapter in a different cafe but then finished the book by writing in the same chocolate cafe!

The turnkey by Allison Rusby – this is a historical novel, set in London in the middle of World War II. The protagonist is Flossie, a twelve-year-old ghost, who is a turnkey – someone who is in charge of a cemetery, keeping all the souls buried there at rest. This is such an original story. The balance between the history and the story is perfect so kids who don’t know a lot about World War II will enjoy reading it. A fabulous book by an Australian author.

The land of stories by Chris Colfer – I loved the premise of this story. A pair of twins (girl and boy) are in miserable circumstances – their father has recently died and their mother had to sell their house and the family bookshop. Their grandmother gives them their father’s old storybook of fairytales. The twins discover that the book is magic, and jump through the book into the land of stories where all their favourite – and not so favourite – characters live. This book will be made into a movie, and I’m predicting it will do well because author/director Chris Colfer is a Glee actor. While the story is wonderful, the writing is so-so. Miss 11 and some of her friends have devoured this book, and the five that follow in the series, so clearly the writing is not as important as the story for them. This book would also be suitable for 8-9 year-olds who are strong readers.

The little white horse by Elizabeth Goudge – this book was published in 1946 in the UK and is simply delightful. It has that classic children’s book feel. Some young readers may find it is too old-fashioned because of the descriptive language. It’s the story of Maria Merryweather who is forced to leave her home in London and live with her governess and cousin in the country. There is a dwarf who cooks, a dog who can communicate well with humans and a legend of the moon princess who must try to do the right thing and save her people again. This is a fabulous read for imaginative and romantic girls – there are three weddings at the end!

How to bee by Bren MacDibble – Love, love, love this book! It was published this year as a debut novel by an Australian author – you’ll remember it for the distinctive yellow and black cover. The main character, Peony, is determined, stubborn and courageous – she wants to be a bee (someone who picks the pollen from the orchard trees) and she wants to bring her family together. It’s set as a dystopian world, and that world is so well built.

When you reach me by Rebecca Stead – I am such a big fan of Rebecca Stead! I love this particular book because it has such a complex storyline (time travelling) with wonderful characters. It’s set in the 1970s in the US, and follows the story of Miranda. She has an intelligent mother who is trying to win a game show, an ex-best friend who won’t talk to her anymore and some new friendships to navigate. This one is for the more discerning reader who is prepared to think a little about the story. You can read more about Rebecca Stead and her other books here.

When the lyrebird calls by Kim Kane – this is a historical Australian book, set in 1900. Madeleine has fallen back in time, and is trying to return to her own time with her grandmother. She spends time with her new friends, and wears their clothes, eats their meals and becomes involved in the women’s lib movement. It’s a wonderful historical novel.

Raymie Nightingale by Kate DiCamillo – This is Kate DiCamillo’s latest book, published this year. Most kids will have probably come across her books – she’s a bestselling US author. Raymie’s voice is strong and compelling, the language evocative. You can read a book review here.

Nevermoor by Jessica Townsend – I have ordered my copy of Nevermoor and am waiting for it to arrive! I can’t speak with any authority about it but it would be remiss of me not to mention it here because there has been so much publicity about it. It is said to be the closest thing to Harry Potter!

I hope some of these books find their way into some lucky girls’ Christmas stockings! You can also look at my previous Christmas suggestions for 9-12 year-olds here, here and here. Please forward on this post to friends and family members who may be looking for some help with buying Christmas books.

 

Filed Under: Children's Fiction, Reading Tagged With: children's fiction, Christmas books, Christmas shopping

Christmas shopping/summer reading – adult fiction

December 9, 2016 by Karen Comer 17 Comments

Whether you are looking for books for gifts or for your own holiday reading, I have a list for you! I also have a giveaway – I have an extra copy of Hannah Kent’s The good people and would love to give it to a loyal blog reader! Please leave a comment to tell me about the best book you read this year and subscribe to my blog if you haven’t already done so. All comments will go into a draw to win this book.

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  • The good people by Hannah Kent – I loved Hannah Kent’s first book, Burial Rites, so I couldn’t wait to read her second one when it came out only a month or so ago. This time, the story is set in Ireland, in 1825 and follows the story of three women. There’s Nora who loses her beloved husband in the first chapter and is responsible for caring for her grandson, Micheal. She can’t cope with Micheal’s ‘differentness’ so she employs Mary, a fourteen-year-old girl to look after him while she works. The third woman is Nance, a strong presence throughout the book, and her link to ‘the good people’ or fairies is both a curse and a blessing to her. I felt absorbed in this Irish world – Hannah Kent’s skill lies in creating authentic settings.

 

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  • The dry by Jane Harper – if you’re the sort of person who likes to say, ‘Oh, yes, I’d like to see that movie – I read the book YEARS ago,’ then perhaps you should read this book now! Jane Harper is a UK-born, Australian-based journalist/novelist and The dry is her debut novel. It’s set in a small Australian rural town and follows two murder stories, set twenty years apart. The thread in the present is about Aaron Falk, a city-based detective who goes back to his home town for the funeral of his childhood friend, Luke, his wife, Karen, and one of their two children. As Aaron uncovers some discrepancies in this case, he is forced to confront his memories about the death of his friend, Ellie, who supposedly drowned twenty years ago. I really cared about these characters – I wanted to find out whodunit but I wanted to know why the characters behaved the way they did and what their tangled relationships meant. A fabulous summer read for everyone. I’ll be there on the opening night of the film!

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  • The course of love by Alain de Botton – this one should be mandatory reading for every married couple. My husband read it and enjoyed it – even though it’s not the type of book he would choose to read. It’s a blend of a fictional story about Rabih and Kirsten, how they met, courted, married, had kids and how one of them had an affair, interwined with philosophical musings on the nature of marriage, human behaviour, female and male tendencies in thinking and behaving. My friend P and I had a shouted discussion about this during our kids’ school disco – it was worth shouting about! This is not an easy read, but it’s an entertaining one and perfect for the discerning, thoughtful reader who would like a slow, reflective read over the holidays. I wrote a longer review here.

A kiss from Mr Fitzgerald

  • A kiss from Mr Fitzgerald by Natasha Lester – transport yourself to 1920s New York, where Evie has given up her fashionable, comfortable life with a potential marriage to a reputable, wealthy young man, in order to follow her dream to become an obstetrician. Evie is a likeable, engaging character and the setting of New York, plus fashion, glamorous parties, a speakeasy makes this book a light page-turner – perfect for summer reading or anyone’s Christmas stocking. You can read my interview with Natasha here.

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  • The paper house by Anna Spargo-Ryan – this is another debut novel. This one brought me to tears, as it follows the journey of Heather, a young married woman who lost her baby at almost full-term. It’s a quiet, reflective story about the spiral of grief for Heather and her family. It doesn’t sound like a wonderful, joyful Christmas present but it’s a beautifully written book that took my breath away with wonderful language and the depth of emotion. I know Anna is writing a second novel, and I’m looking forward to reading it when it’s published.

Be Frank with me

  • Be Frank with me by Julia Claiborne Johnson – this is an engaging, original book – one of my favourite reads for the year because of the engaging, original characters. Mimi is a reclusive writer, living in a mansion in Bel Air with her nine-year-old son, Frank. Alice is a publisher’s young assistant, sent to help Mimi with anything and everything, in order for Mimi to finish her new manuscript. Frank is an unforgettable, quirky character – an adult head on a kid’s shoulders, obsessed with old movies, and has two rules – don’t touch me, don’t touch my things. Wish this would be made into a movie. A wonderful read for all bookworms. There’s a longer review here.

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  • The beast’s garden by Kate Forsythe – I have read nearly all of Kate’s books because she manages to build a tightly structured plot with every single thread beautifully woven together which sits invisibly behind an array of interesting, complex characters with deep desires and hidden secrets. She is an amazing storyteller and wordsmith, and I learnt a lot from her in the Sydney workshop I attended earlier this year. The beast’s garden is about Ava, a young German woman, living in Berlin through World War II. Ava is sympathetic to the Jews and helps many of them, even though the man she loves is one of Hitler’s men. This book weaves love, history, politics, betrayal, family in a book which is full of tension. I blame Kate for a late dinner one night – I could not put this book down at 6.30 in the evening because I HAD to finish it. She told me that was a lovely compliment – I told her I had hungry kids! A fabulous read for anyone who loves a page-turning, historical love story.

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  • All the light we cannot see by Anthony Doerr – this was one of my favourite books I read this year. I passed it on to my husband to read, and he enjoyed it so much that he bought a few copies to give as gifts. It’s a dual narrative, set in World War II, and follows Marie-Laure, a blind French girl living in Paris, and Werner, a orphaned German boy, who has a skill with radios. The book jumps around a bit in time, so it does require a little work from the reader. Because you have a sense that the characters will eventually meet up, the fragments of Marie-Laure and Werner’s stories have a feeling of urgency, even though the writing is beautiful and evocative rather than fast-paced. The characters were wonderfully depicted, so you felt such empathy for both of them, even though they were on opposing sides of the war. Doerr writes lyrically and creates a sensory-rich world. If you call yourself a reader, please read this book!

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  • Bel Canto by Ann Pattchet – this book is truly a marvel. It’s the story of Latin terrorists who hold a large group of people hostage for a few months. Both hostages and terrorists have to forge new relationships and ways of living, and the two different groups blend and separate, blend and separate. The characters are wonderful – an opera singer, her greatest fan – a Japanese man, the Vice-President whose house is overtaken, a translator. Even the terrorists are described as individuals. I’ve read a few of Ann Pattchet’s books, and this one is my favourite.

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  • The birdman’s wife by Melissa Ashley – I chose this book by its cover – simple, elegant and evocative. It’s a novel but it’s based on the life of Elizabeth Gould, an artist who was overshadowed by her husband’s career. I’ve only just started this book, but I’m enjoying the mix of art, birds and life in 1820s London.

I hope you find something for yourself or your friends and family on this list. Please leave a comment about the best book you read this year and subscribe to my blog (if you haven’t already) to go into the draw to win a copy of The good people by Hannah Kent. The winner will be drawn on Friday 16th December at midday, and I’ll post the book out before Christmas.

Happy reading and Christmas shopping!

Filed Under: Adult Fiction Tagged With: adult fiction, book review, Christmas shopping, Hannah Kent, Kate Forsythe, summer reading

Christmas shopping – books for 5-8 year-olds

November 18, 2016 by Karen Comer 10 Comments

I don’t think I have ever, ever used my credit card as much as I have in the last two weeks! Christmas shopping, five December birthdays, furniture for our newly renovated house (we’re back in a few weeks) – the numbers have nearly worn off the card.

But I hope you are still in the mood for Christmas shopping because I have a list of fabulous books for the 5-8 year-old set. I usually buy my books from Readings, Booktopia, Dymocks and Tim’s Bookshop. I subscribe to their newsletters and updates and watch out for when they have sales or discounts.

Often kids in prep, grade 1 or grade 2 who are happy to read picture books suddenly become reluctant to read them. Maybe they think picture books are for babies. Maybe their older siblings are reading thick chapter books. Maybe they want to collect a series – because kids are collectors, aren’t they? So these kids need books that are divided into chapters or sections but have a large font, some illustrations and possibly have speech bubbles or captions to break up long chunks of text. All of these books can be read by a parent first – one or two chapters a night – and then read on their own later.

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  • Our Australian girl series – multiple authors – there are many, many books in this series, as each set follows the adventures of one girl over four books. These books are a coveted, collectable series. The books focus on a certain aspect of Australia’s history but the story comes first. The authors, such as Sofie Laguna, Gabrielle Wang and Sally Rippin, are experienced, natural storytellers so the story is riveting and engaging, regardless of whether it is set in the 1800s or 1900s. A lovely series  –  more for girls.

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  • Danny Best, written by Jen Storer and illustrated by Mitch Vane – Mr 7 loves this book and has read it half a dozen times. Here are some of the plot points – swamp of despair, farts, booby traps and the tortured warrior’s racetrack. The back cover blurb states that Danny makes the rules. Danny breaks the rules. Danny Best is full on. Perfect for 6-8 year old boys.

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  • Weirdo, written by Anh Do, illustrated by Jules Faber – another fabulous series, with seven books at the moment. Short chapters, funny, lots of illustrations, some words printed in a different colour. Both Miss 10 and Mr 7 love these books.

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  • Henrietta, there’s no one better, written and illustrated by Martine Murray – I love Martine’s work because she has a quirky way of looking at the world. I went to a weekend workshop with her a couple of years ago and she was both an inspiring and practical teacher. This book is almost like a stream of consciousness from Henrietta about her daily life. There are lots of illustrations, and there are quite a few pages which have almost been set out like picture books with the text wrapped around the illustrations. With the pink cover, this one is probably more for girls.

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  • Flat Stanley by Jeff Brown, illustrated by Scott Nash – this is an oldie but a goodie. Published in the 1990s, this series is about a boy who has different adventures. In one book, he becomes flat – flat enough that he can be sent through the post box. In another book, he becomes invisible. His parents, the Lambchops, are surprised but take it all in their stride. It’s a funny series, with simple vocabulary, black and white illustrations and large print. A perfect series for kids who want to read chapter books, but need a little help.

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  • Goblin at the zoo, written by Victor Kelleher and illustrated by Stephen Michael King – there are at least half a dozen of these books about Gibblewort, an Irish goblin who doesn’t like children and is quite cranky. The stories are funny and will appeal to kids’ sense of the disgusting and ridiculous. These books are divided into chapters with black and white illustrations and plenty of white space around the text, to make it reasonably easy for kids to read on their own. Mr 7 has a lovely box set of these books – a box set always makes the books feel more special!

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  • I believe in unicorns, written by Michael Morpurgo and illustrated by Gary Blythe – this book is beautiful. It’s great for boys – the main character is Tomas – and great for girls – it’s about a unicorn, after all. This book may need to be read by parents first as there’s more text and less illustrations. It may also suit a nine or ten-year-old. It’s a quieter book about a boy who lives in a small mountain village and doesn’t like school or books. But he’s drawn in by the unicorn lady who spins stories every day at the library. The war has ramifications for his village, and Tomas is part of his village’s efforts to save their books.

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  • The bad guys, written and illustrated by Aaron Blabey – there are four books in this series about some characters who are traditionally the ‘bad guys’ – Mr Wolf, Mr Shark, Mr Snake and Mr Piranha. But Mr Wolf is determined to turn them into good guys! Again, short chapters, minimal text, funny illustrations.

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  • The worry tree, written by Marianne Musgrave – this chapter book is a more sophisticated one so will suit eight-ten year-olds but I’ve included it here because it is a lovely book to read aloud to younger ones. Juliet is a worrier – she worries about her family, her friends and the bully at school. In her new bedroom, she discovers a painted tree with animals hidden under a layer of wallpaper. Her Nana explains that it’s a worry tree so you can tell your specific worries to a specific animal who will look after them for you while you sleep. While this premise might sound a bit preachy, the story is well told and funny. There’s a set of blank pages at the book of the book to fill in your own set of worries and you can also download a poster of the worry tree from the Random House website. A big thank-you to Maddie who showed me her copy of this book and told me all about it!

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  • The Cleo stories, written by Libby Gleeson and illustrated by Freya Blackwood – a wonderful author/illustrator combination. Simple stories about Cleo, who goes to parties, plays with her friends, thinks about her Mum’s birthday present and superglues her fingers to a broken bowl. The illustrations are gorgeous and the text is nicely spaced out so it’s not too overwhelming for early readers.

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  • A miscellany of magical beasts, written by Simon Holland with four illustrators – this is a great book for non-fiction readers. It’s also perfect for kids who may have seen a Harry Potter movie or two, as it covers many of the magical creatures in the Harry Potter series. There’s a gorgeously illustrated double page spread, often with a fold-out page, for each creature – basilisks, trolls, merpeople, centaurs, unicorns, griffins, dragons and so on. Each page gives a little bit of history and some interesting facts. The text is reasonably dense, so you would treat each double page as a chapter – one before bedtime. Or otherwise, it’s a wonderful book to simply look at the pictures and perhaps read a tiny bit.

Here’s my post on series for kids from last year and here’s my post on stand-alone books – you might find something useful there, too.

And of course, don’t forget the usual Hey Jack series and Billy B Brown series by Sally Rippin, the Sporty Kids series by Felice Arena (I have bought many of these books for prep and grade 1 kids), the beautiful Kingdom of Silk series by Glenda Millard, and of course, Tashi by Anna Fienberg and Barbara Fienberg.

I’d be really grateful if you would pass on this post to friends and family who might also be looking for Christmas books to buy for their children and grandchildren. I’m always ecstatic when I see I have a new subscriber! You can subscribe by entering your name and email address on the home page.

Next week, I’ll have a post on books for 9-12 year-olds. Let me know if any of these books appeal to you. Happy Christmas book shopping!

Filed Under: Children's Fiction Tagged With: book review, children's fiction, Christmas shopping

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