reviews 5 – 8 Infant/Junior continued


land and seascapes indicated? The written text is inviting so that you get the sense of an author addressing young learners very directly. Polar animals are ‘superheroes and know exactly how to survive on the ice’. I am reminded of Margaret Meek’s wise


writers of non-fiction for children ‘lend out their minds’.


presents both geographical and zoological information in an exciting way for the under eights and would be a welcome addition to any primary school library.


Blue Penguin HHHHH


Petr Horácek, Walker Books, 32pp, 978-1-4063-5828-5, £11.99 hbk


In the far south, a new baby penguin is born into a penguin colony: but he’s blue. Something that astounds his fellow penguins who ask, ‘Are you a real penguin?’ The youngster is able to perform the usual penguin type activities such as diving and jumping tolerably well and he is an excellent fisher. However, the others are puzzled by him and he’s soon left shunned, feeling empty and lonely with just his night-time dreams for company. Company of a kind though, comes night after night into one of those dreams, in the form of a white whale, a beautiful creature that takes Blue Penguin far, far from his lonely place. Then each morning the penguin sings a song, sending it far out across the ocean to the whale. When another


this song, she’s drawn ever closer towards it until she is able to ask of Blue Penguin, ‘Teach me your song?’ He does and the two become friends, singing and playing together. After some time Blue Penguin thinks it’s time for them to learn a new song; it’s a song whose magical quality draws in the other penguins from the colony and they too want to learn it. Then comes the arrival of a huge


white whale: that too has heard the song and come in response to its call. Blue Penguin is now faced with a dilemma: new song or old song? Should he go with his dreamtime whale


Penguin, his new friend? Petr Horáček’s wonderful, magical


friend or penguin hears


observation that successful This book


MM


are taking a postprandial nap in the warm sunshine of the savannah when hunters appear. Instead of running away with the rest of the


Lafcadio stays to meet the hunters. A


during which Lafacdio eats a great many hunters, becomes a crack shot, joins a circus as a trick shooter and then


stardom and riches bring satisfaction.


interesting turn when he meets Uncle Shelby. Uncle Shelby is, of course, the narrator and author


Imbued with characteristic Silverstein humour and absurdity, the tale romps to its inevitable conclusion. It’s not a book for the faint-hearted; hunting, shooting and the capricious eating of humans and marshmallows is commonplace. Disbelief has to be suspended throughout and it is this which gives it universal appeal to adults and children alike. It’s not just a witty story, though.


of the story. His life takes an always hilarious adventure pride, ensues,


discovers that international don’t


animals, such as the much bigger woolly rhinoceros and the predatory smilodon (or


pose a threat to the young bison. Unsurprisingly, by the end of the story, Toby decides he wants to return to the safety of home. Toby and the Ice Giants successfully


includes information within and alongside the simple narrative, with a mini fact file section at the side of each page. The book and end papers include additional interesting information with maps, size comparison charts, images of other extinct animals and a useful glossary. The illustrations are attractive and the book is well designed. Children will enjoy poring over the pages of this book and becoming experts on these exciting creatures who once roamed the earth.


SMc The Snow Queen HHH


Hans Christian Andersen illus. Lucie Arnoux, trans. Misha Hoekstra, Pushkin Children’s Books, 86pp, 978-1-7826-9103-7, £6.99 pbk


It’s actually a modern fable; about knowing yourself and about finding your place in the world. Supported with line drawn cartoons throughout, this book offers an opportunity secure


novel in the UK for the first time. It’s an opportunity well worth seizing. GR


Pablo & Jane and the Hot Air Contraption


HHHH


Jose Domingo, Flying Eye Books, 56pp, 978-1-9092-6336-9, £15.99 hbk


stay with Little


story with its insiders/outsides theme is a timely one, coming as it does in a year when, with the refugees from Syria arriving and one hopes finding a real welcome in the UK, the message is particularly important. My abiding hope is that Blue Penguin’s song can reach everyone the world over at this troubled time. I’d like to see a copy in every home and classroom.


JB


Lafcadio, The Lion Who Shot Back


HHHH


Shel Silverstein, Pushkin Children’s Books, 112pp, 978-1-7826-9082-5, £12.99hbk


Lafcadio is a lion, but not just any lion. He asks questions and doesn’t take no for an answer. One day, the lions


This square format padded book is part comic strip and part treasure hunt as the reader helps Pablo and Jane find the missing machine parts that will help complete the Hot Air Time Contraption and allow them to make their escape! The illustrations are totally unique and children will enjoy exploring the scenes to locate the next vital piece of the machine. Dodge trolls in Nocturnal Norway, look out for nefarious nesting dolls in Monstrous Moscow and beware the voodoo in Bone-Chilling Bayou before picking up the comic book story before the end. The locations are exotic, there is danger to avoid on every page and particularly keen explorers will relish in the list of additional things to find at the back of the book. For the price this is a well-produced book that holds hours of finding fun, and looks cool enough to be seen with at school!


KC Toby and the Ice Giants HHHH


Joe Lillington, Flying Eye Books, 32pp, 978-1-9092-6358-1, £11.99 hbk


Toby is a young bison living over 10,000 years ago in the Ice Age tundra. He decides to go off and explore, meeting lots of other (now extinct) animal species along


Silverstein’s 1963 debut to


This is a new, illustrated translation of Hans Christian Andersen’s classic fairy story, the story which prompted the mega-success that is Disney’s Frozen. It tells the story of Kai and Gerda, whose simple, contented childhood is shattered when splinters of evil enter Kai’s heart and mind. As a result, he goes off with the Snow Queen, where he becomes captive in her frozen castle, imprisoned in both body and mind. Gerda’s friendship is sorely tested as she overcomes trails and traumas to rescue him. As a novel containing seven stories (or chapters within an over- arching narrative), it’s lengthy for a fairy tale. The complex structure tells stories within the story and so combines Quest and Rebirth genres within the meta- narrative of Overcoming the Monster. In comparison with contemporary


writers, the characterisation is simple. Some of the themes (particularly in the religious context) would be a puzzle to today’s readers, but this translation carefully avoids archaic language (the story is nearly 200 years old) and is accessible to confident readers. Each chapter is enhanced with a full page line


sabre toothed tiger)


then on, Ryan’s dad stops at nothing to get his own fierce white dragon to take on Tân in a battle – representing the


Britons. When the battle is over, Harri works out the best way to keep Tân safe – for the time being! This is the second book about Harri and his pet dragon Tân, inspired by Welsh legends about young Merlin and the battle of the red dragon – the symbol of Wales. It has all the ingredients of an enjoyable series for young readers; magic, fast-paced action, lots of humour, a kind-hearted and resourceful hero and a fire- breathing pet dragon! Shoo Rayner also illustrates the book with plenty of funny and lively pictures, and the thumbnail sketches of characters at the head of each chapter help to show the different viewpoints in the story. LT


The Storm Leopards HHHH


Holly Webb, Stripes, 192pp, 978-1-8471-5711-9, £5.99 pbk


This is a delightful book for winter, with a story about a snow leopard and her cubs, and how an animal-loving girl called Isabelle helps to save them. It’s a few weeks before Christmas, Isabelle


and


beautiful snow leopard that she sees on a family visit to the local zoo. Having chosen a little felt souvenir, made by a family living in Mongolia, Isabelle finds out more about the snow leopard charity dedicated to protecting the endangered species. When she is magically transported to Mongolia, she has an amazing adventure helping a new friend Odval to save Grace the snow leopard and her two cubs, Sky and Shadow. The details about the Mongolian


family’s way of life are fascinating, and children will gain understanding about how snow leopards can be protected by local people, despite the threat to their livestock. The appealing illustrations help to


is entranced by a Saxons versus the Ancient


and a pair of lovesick anthropomorphic crows may not be to everyone’s taste, but these elements are mitigated by the timeless themes of good overcoming evil and the power of friendship. It’s a book which should be in a


class library, not least because fans of Frozen may want to read the tale which inspired the film. As a good example of its kind it has a place, representing


tellers of fairy tales of all time. GR Dragon White


one of the


Shoo Rayner, Firefly Press, 130pp, 978-1-9100-8030-6, £5.99 pbk


way. Through Toby’s eyes we are introduced to a new creature on every double page spread. Some of these


the


Harri has been asked to fly his red dragon at his town’s May Day parade, but only a few people know that Tân isn’t just a remote controlled model – he is real! Harri’s best friend Ryan is in on the secret, but Ryan’s dad suspects the truth and tricks him into revealing it. This causes real problems for Harri and Ryan’s friendship. From


greatest HHHH


illustration. A feral bandit child


make this an engaging story for young children who enjoy animal stories. Holly Webb’s letter at the end of the book provides more information about the Snow Leopard Trust and the inspiration behind the story. LT


The Football’s Revolt HHHHH


Jan Le Witt & George Him, V&A Publishing, 32pp, 978-I-8517-7747-8, £11.99 hbk


Did you know that footballs have a language? No? Well, neither did I but it’s certainly so in this droll story produced by the designer duo Jan Le Witt and George Him and actually a reproduction of the original 1939 edition. The hero of


he surely is, utters ‘Oufff’, which translates as ‘Go easy’, and ‘Pumppff, fumffpp’ – ‘Now go


me, gentleman, I won’t have this treatment any longer …’ and thus begins his protest; for the next thing that transpires is that said ball sits down on a passing cloud and refuses to


important Goalbridge versus Kickford annual Silver Cup soccer match. Now, I have to admit to being in fits


Books for Keeps No.216 January 2016 23 further participate in the all-


of giggles long before the final whistle is blown; yes a match does eventually


on the tale, for that without


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