BfK


page spread Frederick’s


5 – 8 Infant/Junior continued alternating


between


where a dark, sombre dominates, are the


emphasising her


claustrophobic room palette


set against a white ground, colours brighter


while Emily’s actions and


freedom.


lighter, The


contrast is telling and effective, a perfect counterpart to the text. This is presented almost completely in the form of letters – or in the case of Emily, notes. Frederick’s efforts are flowery, poetical – here is a child who lives through his imagination. Emily’s answers are short – and get shorter


– very much to the point. Manley sets up the expectation that we will have a fairytale ending of escape. However, freedom is not without risk – but this does not mean that it is not worth it. This is a clever, quite subtle narrative that sets out to counter the be


notion that restricted


brilliant children should because something


unfortunate might happen. It does this through an engaging storyline cleverly enhanced and extended by the


illustrations that add


humour and personality. Unusual and very enjoyable. FH


8 – 10 Junior/Middle Ed’s Choice


Moonstruck. Poems About Our Moon


HHHH


Edited by Roger Stevens. Illustrated by Ed Boxall. Otter-Barry Books. 96pp. 9781910959657. £6.99 pbk


It is always a treat to have a new anthology


from Roger Taking inspiration Stevens.


This collection certainly does not disappoint.


from the celebrations around the first moon landing fifty years ago, Roger has gathered together work from a galaxy of poets, sprinkling the contemporary with the past, The result is an eclectic mix of the lyrical, the matter-of-fact, the humorous. Many of the poets are already well known – Roger, himself, Liz Brownlee,


Rachel Rooney,


Shelley, Yeats. Others may not be so familiar but readers will want to find more from their imaginations after meeting them here. Throughout, Ed Boxall’s


atmospheric


characters, and the chief source of comedy, they are also the heart and soul of the hotel and Ivy and Ash learn that getting rid of them is a grave mistake...the hunt for the haunters begins and a brave expedition on to the misty moor ensues. The relationship between Ivy and Ash is typical of many siblings and will be familiar to many readers. There are arguments and impatience but they are, ultimately, an excellent team


and their


problem-solving the


ghosts’ resilience are repetitive and


Beyond Dad’s ridiculous menu ideas, and


endearing. jokes,


humour is a little sparse. Readers’ enjoyment will, instead, come from the story’s charming, optimistic tone and endearing themes of family and teamwork. SD


Counting on Katherine HHHHH


Helaine Becker, ill. Dow Phumiruk, Macmillan, 32pp, 978 1 5290 0559 2, £10.99, hbk


This is the story of Katherine Johnson who, behind the scenes and against the odds, had a crucial role in Project Mercury; the programme designed to put American astronauts into space. She calculated the flight paths which led to the successful moon landings and also, under tremendous pressure, calculated the flight path required for the safe return to earth of the damaged Apollo 13 spaceship. Katherine gradually gained the trust of astronauts and the respect of the white male dominated community at NASA. The


picturebook begins with illustrations


and page decorations capture the flavour of each poem – magical, mysterious, haunting, funny. Here,


My Family and Other Ghosts HH


Lou Kuenzler, Scholastic, 275pp, 9781407186702, £5.99 pbk


In this spooky comedy for young


children, readers are invited to stay at Grave Grange hotel, where the only thing stranger than the ghostly noises echoing around the corridors is the bizarre food coming from the kitchen. Ivy and Ash are 10-year-old twins and they are somewhat surprised when their grandpa arrives and offers them the opportunity to run a hotel on Darkmoor (no, not Dartmoor - it’s much scarier than Dartmoor!). This is a surprise because they have no idea how to run a hotel, and is even more


in words combined with images we meet the moon in all guises; a rock in the sky, an inspiration, a piece of cheese. This is an anthology that does stand out and should be visited again and again, allowing young readers to be drawn in by the ideas and images the poets offer. It is an anthology to be explored both in the class together, or privately. FH


of a surprise because Grandpa has been dead for some time! Having persuaded their culinarily


quirky dad (trifle with curry, anyone?) to take on the kitchen, the young pair set about establishing Grave Grange as Darkmoor’s number one hotel. Unfortunately, their plans are seriously hindered by a mischievous poltergeist, a headless lord and a dotty, dead opera singer who won’t keep


support


quiet. Despite some moral from a disembodied hand


and a giant spectral hound called Misty, the first reviews are dire and it is clear that only exorcism will save the hotel’s reputation. The humorous


ghouls 24 Books for Keeps No.238 September 2019 though, are not only the most entertaining


Katherine’s childhood, she was an exceptional learner with a gift for mathematics. It describes the obstacles she overcame as an African American due to discrimination and segregation. Luckily, Katherine had a very supportive family who moved towns so that she could attend a high school for black students. Through determination and hard work, she secured her dream job working as a mathematician or ‘computer’ at NASA. This is an authorised biography and


based on Interviews with Katherine and her family. Additional


factual information


about Katherine’s life is included at the back of the book and there are also links to find out more. It is an enjoyable read and the warmth of the full colour illustrations and the clear and accessible layout add to the appeal of this very attractive book. This book is a great addition to telling the role


stories of women,


and in particular women of colour, in history. Katherine’s story might inspire children,


how crucial


girls to aim high. It also provides insight into


especially young accurate


mathematical calculation is to space exploration. The end papers, featuring huge chalkboards covered in sums, problems and formulae are a nice feature indicating the fascination and mystery of mathematical calculations and inviting readers to turn the pages to find out more. SM


What’s That In Dog Years? HHHH


Ben Davis, ill. Julia Christians, OUP, 296pp, 978-0-19-274921-5, £6.99, pbk


George has one faithful friend who he can rely on absolutely-Gizmo, his beloved dog. They have been together for the whole of George’s life but Gizmo is now elderly with not long left to live. George decides to compile a bucket list of Gizmo’s favourite things and to do them all with him before Gizmo dies. However, there are obstacles to this ambition – his parents’ divorce, which leaves little money to spare, and the disintegration of his long- term friendship with Matt, who has shifted his allegiance to the two school bullies, in a effort to be seen as cool. George’s panic attacks-the result of a bad accident two years earlier-do not help, earning him the derision and cruelty of the bullies. All seems bleak until the arrival


of Lib, also a figure of fun to the boys as a result of her deprived background. She provides George with a lifeline, training Gizmo to win a dog competition which provides the money for the longed-for trip to Golden Beach, Gizmo’s final treat. What’s That In Dog Years? is a


classic tearjerker – I certainly cried when Gizmo died – and because it is partly


his character an extra dimension. Substantial


are cleverly


told by Gizmo it gives issues


incorporated into the text; the nature of friendship, the significance of social class, society’s outsiders and the tensions of married life. This is a book ripe for discussion – and, in addition, a rattling good read. VR


The International Yeti Collective


HHH


Paul Mason, ill Katy Riddell, Stripes, 176pp, 978 1 78895 0848, £6.99 pbk


Ella is spending the summer with her Uncle Jack, a TV presenter who is on location in the Himalayas attempting to find the elusive yeti. Ella is not sure she believes they exist but is captivated by her uncle’s passion and decides to investigate herself as one of their cameras has caught something unusual. At the same time a young yeti named Tick decides to do a little exploring too as he feels drawn to humans ever since his mother was banished by flouting the yeti rule that they should never approach humans. Tick is caught spying by one of the yeti elders and expelled from the yeti sett but is given a reprieve when he tells them that the humans are on their trail thereby putting the whole yeti collective in danger. And when their precious stones detailing yeti lore and mapping the whereabouts of other yeti setts are found by the humans the yetis are forced to set off on a quest to retrieve the stone tablets before they can be deciphered by humans.


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