'The best books, reviewed with insight and charm, but without compromise.'
- author Jackie French

Sunday 1 May 2011

KBR Recommends Margaret Wild Books

In light of our fabulous interview with author Margaret Wild, we wanted to recommend some of our favourite books by this award-winning children's writer. Enjoy this selection and don't miss our reviews on Itsy-Bitsy Babies and Fox.

Harry & Hopper
(Omnibus, $15.99)

Harry and Hopper do everything together.

Hopper helps Harry with his homework and Harry helps Hopper escape from his weekly bath. At night, Hopper sneaks past Dad and goes to sleep in Harry's bed.

One day, Harry comes home from school and his dog isn't there to greet him. Harry will never know the feel or the smell of Hopper again.

But love is strong, and Hopper will stay with Harry as long as he needs him . .




Our Granny
(Scholastic, $19.99)

Two children compare their granny with others.

Some grannies have thin legs, fat knees, crinkly eyes, or big soft laps.

Their granny has a wobbly bottom and wears an old red sweater that was grandpa's.

She has a style all her own--and to the children who love her, this granny is perfect.

Full of warmth and good humor.

Puffling
(Scholastic, $15.99)

Puffling is a baby-small and white and very hungry. Every day he waits in the burrow while Big Stripy Beak and Long Black Feather hunt for food.

Puffling dreams of the day when he will leave the burrow and fly away-but he isn't ready yet, not until he is tall and brave enough to fend for himself. The scary gulls are waiting outside, waiting for the day the baby puffins take their first journey by themselves.

Every day Puffling asks his parents, but every day they say he must wait until he has grown taller and stronger. Then he must walk along the cliff top and jump into the water before the gulls can catch him. Will he ever be brave enough?

The Pocket Dogs
(Scholastic, $15.99)

Biff and Buff are two tiny dogs. They belong to Mr Pockets and are small enough to ride in the big pockets of his very big coat.

One day a hole appears in the right pocket, and it gets bigger and bigger! Biff, who always rides in the right pocket, is afraid he will fall out and one day this is exactly what happens. Biff is lost. Lots of people try to help him, but he wants only his beloved Mr Pockets.

Will Mr Pockets ever find him?
The Dream of the Thylacine
(A&U, $29.99)

The Dream of the Thylacine is a lament for a lost species, and a celebration of the Australian landscape.

It interposes arresting text and images of the last known thylacine in a concrete cage with sweeping colour paintings of the animal in its natural environment.

Intense, poetic and beautiful, this book will haunt you.