Review: Anorak magazine

I stumbled across Anorak magazine some time ago now, and fell head over heels in love in an instant. Based in the UK, Anorak produces a quarterly magazine for kids that's unlike any other.

Launched in 2006, and called 'the happy mag for kids', the magazine is aimed at boys and girls aged 6 to 12. Content includes stories, colouring, things to do, and lots of cool and fascinating facts - to make everyone HAPPY! 

Review: Vampyre

Graphic Novels for Young Adults have arrived, but Vampyre is not a Graphic Novel. It holds true to the style of a simple picture book with tight language and short sentences, however, Vampyre is not for younger children. It pulls in the attention of an older audience with dark, desolate images. Vampyre's themes of discrimination, rejection and taking life threatening risks are also not for younger children.

WIN! Dragonkeeper book set

The next installment in the internationally best-selling and award-winning Dragonkeeper series - Blood Brothers - is here. In celebration of its release, author Carole Wilkinson is on tour! and KBR is delighted to host this very special giveaway.

The year is 325. The powerful Han Dynasty is a distant memory and tribes of barbarian soldiers fight over what was once the Empire. It is a dangerous time.

Kai is 465 years old – a teenager in dragon years. He is searching for the person predestined to be his
dragonkeeper. Kai’s search has led him to a Buddhist novice named Tao. But Tao is certain he is not the one; he has no interest in caring for a difficult dragon. He believes his path lies in another direction.

Tao must learn to listen to the voice within himself. He must learn that no journey ever reveals its true purpose until it is over.

Thanks to Walker Books, three lucky winners will win all four books in the Dragonkeeper series, each set valued at $84.80!

To enter, simply give us 5 words that best describe the perfect dragon.

Type 'Dragonkeeper' into the subject line and email your answer to taniaATkids-bookreviewDOTcom. The most creative answers, as judged by KBR, will win. Be sure to include your full name and address - entries without will be ineligible.

Competition runs from 5am Monday 21 May 2012 to Sunday 27 May 2012, 9pm AEST, and the comp is open to Australian and New Zealand residents over the age of 18 (mum and dad can enter on behalf of kids). This is a game of skill, not chance. The judges' decision is final and no correspondence will be entered into.

Interview: Nina Lim, author & ebook publisher

KBR warmly welcomes the lovely Nina Lim, author and ebook publisher, with this insightful interview on her new creation. If you are interested in the ebook market, this is a must-read.

Tell us a little about you.

I’m a former university teacher turned author and mother of three.

I live in Sydney’s north, a stone’s throw from national parks, beaches and wonderful cafes.

Guest Post: Mental Health Books for Kids with Karen Tyrrell

Kids Book Review is delighted to welcome author Karen Tyrrell, on tour with her brand new book Me & Her: A Memoir of Madness. Here, Karen gives us insight into a fabulous array of children's books that promote mental wellbeing. We at KBR strongly feel that an early understanding of mental illness is a vital component in both dealing with and supporting this prevalent health issue. Take it away, Karen!

When I was a primary teacher, parents at my school harassed me to breaking point and beyond. After I was released from a psyche hospital, I wrote my gutsy memoir, Me & Her: a Memoir of Madness, sharing my strategies to recovery.

I’ve since become a writer for children and a passionate mental health advocate.

After I recovered, I returned to teaching. I taught my beloved year two class mental health strategies, to strengthen their emotional resilience. I advocate that parents, teachers and librarians support children on how to cope with the stresses of life. Reading and discussing these books will strengthen their resilience . . .

Review: Sophie Scott Goes South

Sophie is going to work with her dad, a ship's captain on an Icebreaker. Their voyage will take them to Mawson Station in Antarctica and back, an amazing journey for anyone let alone a nine-year-old girl. Sophie is nervous and excited and she doesn't want to forget a thing, so she takes a diary with her to record all the amazing things that she sees and learns on her trip.

With everything from whales and penguins to icebergs and the southern lights, Sophie shares her amazing adventure in the pages of this enjoyable picture book by popular Australian author and Australian Children's Laureate, Alison Lester.

Year 4 Literacy Class Review: Sometimes Love Is Under Your Foot

 

Sometimes Love Is Under Your Foot written and illustrated by Colin Thompson, $33.65 Scholastic Australia 2008

This picture book is about learning to appreciate someone who loves you. The main characters are Brian, a man who works at King Of Pies and Kevin, Brian’s dog.

Brian ignores Kevin until Brian starts to get ill. He realises that Kevin is more than just an old silly dog. He needs to appreciate Kevin a bit more. The part that made me laugh was when it said Kevin Loves Brian so much he thinks he is God!

My favourite part is when Brian comes down stairs, picks up Kevin and stares at the moon. I thought it would be sad all the way through but it had a happy ending. It was a great picture book for people 9+. The book is also good for people who love dogs and understand love.

The illustrations are done with pencil and water colour. The pictures set a sad mood at the beginning but as you read on they get happier. This is helped by the pictures starting off dull and getting lighter as you read on. The pictures are funny at the same time as being sad.

- by Abby, age 10

Year 4 Literacy Class Review: Star Navigator

Star Navigator by Allan Baillie and Wayne Harris, 1997, ABC Books, $19.95, not published anymore.

A story about a star navigator that needs to rescue a crippled freighter from the depths of the galaxy, can he make it? Zooming through space the star navigator leads the fleet to gather precious materials to save the crew of the freighter. Many dangers await star navigator Bryan Hanrahan.

Bryan is the main character, his pet, which came from his purple breakfast egg on Antares, is Styg. Styg likes tasting everyone he meets even though Bryan tells him not to. Styg is a green small alien with a long tongue.

The admiral is a brown alien with four short stubby horns in a line on his head, the engineer a green alien with yellow eyes and big ears looks a bit like a goblin. The cook looks a bit like a bull with two noses, his two ears each have three earrings. The technician has yellow skin and his two big blue eyes and he looks a bit like a woman. The crew of the many ships come from many different planets and galaxies.

Bryan comes from and lives on Earth but when the call comes he is willing to fly into space.

This picture book has illustrations that show the story’s details and even help telling the story, because the dry brush acrylic gives a spacy effect and makes the ships and aliens look realistic. Star Navigator is a good fantasy book for kids who like sci-fi and are between the ages of 6-8 years.

- by David, age 10

Year 4 Literacy Class Review: The Red Tree

The Red Tree by Shaun Tan, $29.99 Published by Lothian Books

Do you ever feel gloomy? The little girl in this book feels upset and gloomy. She has orange hair and it makes her stand out. I think the illustrator gave her orange hair because it shows she is different. She is the main character in this book and she doesn’t have a name. (I don’t think that matters!)

My favourite part of this book is when the girl has a bad day and comes back to where she started, in her bedroom and she feels better. It shows that you can bounce back again. The illustrations are painted and help by setting the girl’s gloomy mood. I liked this book because of the great pictures and they have great detail in them. I felt like I was looking through the girl’s eyes. It was a great feeling.

The message of this story is think positive. The Red Tree is a picture book for 6+ year olds.

- by Eleanor, age 10

Year 4 Literacy Class Review: The Eleventh Hour

The Eleventh Hour by Graeme Base, Penguin 1988, $14.95

Mysterious pictures tell the story. The book is about an elephant who is turning eleven and he makes everything at his party eleven.

The book has lots of detail in the pictures and you really have to look right into the pictures.

My favorite part is when the tiger gets the pig out in cricket!

The main character is Horace the elephant.

If you look right into the pictures you can make out words of who stole the feast.

I think this book is for 8 to 10 year olds.

- by Josh, age 10

Year 4 Literacy Class Review: The Stinky Cheese Man and Other Fairly Stupid Tales!

The Stinky Cheese Man and Other Fairly Stupid Tales by Jon Scieszka and Lane Smith, Puffin Books, 1993, $16.95

This is the best book I’ve ever read!!!! This book is full of REALLY funny modified fairy tales. You should read it!!!!!

My favourite part of the book was when Chicken Lichen thought the sky was falling but the table of contents fell instead!

The Stinky Cheese Man and other Fairly Stupid Tales is an illustrated story.

The one disappointing thing about this book is that the way it is set out makes it a bit confusing.

The language used in this book is slightly funny and a bit rude.

The illustrations make the story funnier and the story would be pretty boring if the illustrations weren’t there. Anyway, people like illustrations.

I liked the entire book it makes people laugh and cheers sad people up, except the way it was set out made it a bit puzzling.

I think anyone would like this book but they would understand it better if they read some of the stories the book is based on.

SO GET OUT AND READ IT TODAY!!!

- Kate, age 9

Year 4 Literacy Class Review: Luke’s Way Of Looking

Luke’s Way Of Looking by Nadia Wheatley and Matt Ottley, Hodder Headline, 2001

What happens when you have a great imagination but you can’t use it? Read this book to find out.

This book is about a young boy, Luke, who has a great imagination but his grumpy art teacher, Mr. Barraclough, won’t let him use it. Luke feels like he can’t share his ideas and he is upset.

My favourite part of the book is when Luke paints a watermelon; he makes it look 3D and colourful.

At the end Mr Barraclough finally sees Luke’s way of looking and Luke finally finds his confidence.

The illustrations help because they show you how Luke sees things and what he is feeling.

The moral of the story is to always be yourself and it doesn’t matter what other people think.

This colourful book will make you feel happy and creative and I recommend it for 7+

- by Kristen, age 10