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Tuesday 16 July 2019

Review: Puffin Nibbles Blast Off

Here is a series of six new titles in the Puffin Nibbles parade. It caters perfectly to early readers with illustrated stories in short chapters full of fun and humour, fantastic characters, and clever use of language that captures children’s imagination and excites their thirst for role playing.

In Blast Off! Adam just wants to be an astronaut. He lives and breathes his longing. When he goes into Mad Marvin’s yard, he gets a taste of what it feels like to travel into space. But, does he still want to be an astronaut now he’s experienced what it’s like?

The Littlest Pirate by Sherryl Clark, Illustrated by Tom Jellett introduces Nicholas, the littlest pirate in the world. Even little people can have big dreams and achieve big things. When Nicholas is told that his family has been captured by pirates, he’s off and away to save them with the help of the cook Greta’s inedible puddings.

Bad Buster by Sophie Laguna, illustrated by Leigh Hobbs is about a boy who’s very bad. So bad, that he has no playmates. His parents are just as bad as he is, but they want to find something to occupy Buster and keep him out of mischief. The Home for Lost and Unwanted Dogs seems to be the answer. Buster is the perfect friend and companion for these discarded animals. They obey and love him. When boy and dogs foil a robbery, everything changes for this bad boy.

In The Mermaid’s Tail by Raewyn Caisley illustrated by Ann James, Crystal wants to be a mermaid. Her mum sews her a mermaid tail which she wears everywhere, but is forbidden to wear it to bed.  On the night that she does, something magical happens.

Scruffy’s Day Out by Rachel Flynn, illustrated by Jocelyn Bell showcases the Jones family that has five boys whose names all start with a J. On a day of cricket out the front, dad saves a dog from being run over. Who is the owner is the first question. The boys’ door-to- door search for the owner finds them new friends and a lasting friendship with Scruffy.

Fairy Bread by Ursula Dubosarsky, illustrated by Mitch Vane opens with Becky’s birthday wish. She wants fairy bread and lots of it. More and more is made. But who is going to eat it? No one seems to want to. What can you do with lots of fairy bread except leave it out for the fairies?

A highly entertaining series with lots of positive themes but what ties them together is the role of play, imagination and the support of fantastic illustrations.
  


Title: Puffin Nibbles Blast Off
Author: Margaret Clark
Illustrator: Tom Jellett
Publisher: Penguin Random House, $9.99
Publication Date: May 2019
Format: Paperback
ISBN: 9780143301851
For ages: 6+
Type: Junior Fiction