‘This is where we say goodbye’ aches with the sorrow and confusion of losing a loved one. Maud spends her 21st birthday hiding in a library toilet, rather than go home to the birthday celebration prepared by her housemate, because how can you celebrate a birthday when the next day you are going to the funeral for your favourite brother? Even worse, how can you have a party, when you are grappling with understanding how your brother took a leap off a bridge? As long as the police divers have not found a body, maybe there can be some kind of pretence that he is still alive somewhere.
The story is told in Maud’s voice as though talking to the reader. She says ‘I honestly don’t know where the frig to start, guys’. And what follows are bizarre thoughts and memories of all kinds of strange scenarios that mix hilarity with desperation. It is comedy and tragedy at the same time. Maud’s manic imagination conjures all kinds of weird excuses rather than face the loss that is eating away at her heart. It is an account of just twenty-four hours, but so much spins out in those hours that it feels like a whirlwind rushing towards the final reckoning with self acceptance.
Howard McKenzie-Murray’s debut novel was one of four shortlisted for the City of Fremantle Hungerford Award 2024. It shows his experience as a playwright bringing voices to the stage. The characters are vivid, endearing, and funny, and will keep you intrigued to read to the end.
Themes Mental health, Grief, Suicide, Love.
Helen Eddy
Annie and Maeve are definitely not friends by Olivia Muscat
Annie and Maeve are Definitely Not Friends is about two girls, Annie and Maeve, who are both blind. Maeve has been blind her whole life, whereas Annie just recently became blind. The book depicts both girls’ challenges and obstacles but also their persistence. Despite their similarities, they believe they do not have much in common. Annie has just moved to a new school, and she gets paired with Maeve, which she isn’t so happy about. The story is set in Australia and is a great representation of disabled identities from blind author and disability activist Olivia Muscat.
This book may be a slow one at first, but trust me, it gets better. I was keen to know whether the girls persist, and will there be events that blossom a friendship? I found this book realistic to the way Australian schools run, which made it more relatable.
Three girls. Three fates. Three interwoven stories.
The stories of Miri and Aleita, set one hundred years apart, interwoven with the ‘fairytale’ of Sylvie, contain various strands which bind them together. Sharing a passion for knowledge, talented at handicrafts including knitting and weaving, and having a love of textiles, all three characters bear strong similarities. Their desire to discover the truth, fight for equality and justice for women, build community, and campaign for the environment are important priorities of all three.
Studying Year 12 in 2025, eighteen-year-old Miri is a keen and capable student with definite plans for her future. When she becomes pregnant to her boyfriend Jonah, these plans are thrown into disarray. How will her future look if she decides to have her baby? Is their relationship strong enough to withstand such a major change? With her dysfunctional family, who will be there to support her? Will she be able to fulfill her dreams, whilst also allowing Jonah to achieve his?
In 2125, digital implants, artificial intelligence or the Consciousness Cluster (CC) not only harvest but also control the thoughts and movements of the bulk of the population. The only place in which one is free from ‘neural jolts’ is the library. Bots and holograms are part of life.
Sixteen-year-old Aleita, eager to support the work of her late grandmother, becomes involved in a project designed to ostensibly observe her impulses when ‘jolted’ by a third party. Initially, she believes she is furthering scientific and neural research. Is EveNet an ethical company, or is it going beyond what is reasonable in terms of personal freedom?
Sylvie’s tale appears in snippets between the stories of the other two young women, with its mystical nature transcending time and space. The timeless quality of her story leaves the reader questioning its origin or author.
Having personally spent thirty years working in teacher librarian roles, my love of libraries and literature is in synch with the views Comer expresses in her dedication. Whilst I thoroughly enjoyed her first title, I feel her writing has gone from strength to strength. Given that her previous book, Grace Notes, has already won a CBCA award I would be surprised if this title isn’t shortlisted in future too.
Daisy is fast, the latest swimmer in the district. She even beat Marvin Marlin and Sally Swordfish for the championship.
When she swims, it is always in the fast lane at the pool and she does 100 laps each time. But one day, Frank appears. He drops into the fast lane, annoying Daisy and her laps. She tells him that perhaps he needs to be in a slower lane, but he demurs. He keeps swimming until he runs out of puff, and she again suggests the slow lane. Again he says there is room enough room for two, and off he swims. But when he interrupts Daisy again, his long legs interfering with her butterfly sprint, she takes action, elbowing him into the lane ropes.
He keeps turning up in the fast lane however, reading the paper, listening to his mobile, until Daisy leaps from the pool thinking about what to do.
She looks over at the park and there is Frank with some friends having a picnic.
She is still cross, not wanting to share the fast lane, and walking towards Frank, falls into the pond. Her dark mood is lessened as Frank offers her a piece of chocolate cake.
He asks her to join the picnic and apologises for hanging out in the fast lane. Even though he is a frog, he cannot swim as well as he should. Frank and Daisy are now able to work together in the pool and still achieve Daisy’s aim.
Delightful illustrations support the text, with humour and lots of colour. Readers will find lots to seek out on the detailed pages and laugh out loud at the animals in their guises. I love the flamingos doing aquarobics, and the image of Frank in a John Travolta pose, just two of the very funny and apt illustrations in The Fast Lane.
Themes Swimming, Sharing, Humour, Friendship.
Fran Knight
If I could eat the stars and other poems by Rebecca Newman and Sally Murphy. Illus by Briony Stewart
Reading this poem will be risky- alliteration will torment you with tongue twisters, similes will surround you like sharks, occasional rhyme will take up your time And KA-BLAM! onomatopoeia will shock you. Do not read this poem…
And so begins If I Could Eat the Stars, the follow up collection to Right Way Down published in 2024. This latest collection is a treasure trove of verse by Australian poets including Cristy Burne, James Foley, Briony Stewart, A. J. Betts, Frané Lessac, Sally Murphy, and Meg McKinlay. The book is divided into four distinct sections: Livewires, In Full Swing, Off The Beaten Track and On Top Of The World.
This dynamic collection offers a wonderful opportunity for classroom exploration and discussion, showcasing an inspiring range of poetic styles that will enhance students’ understanding of how poetry can look, sound, and function. Traditional verse, rhyming poems, Haiku, cinquain, an inventive shape poem in the cleverly constructed Space Whales, sit alongside a coding poem, poems with humour and those that show movement, such as Breeze on the Djarlgarro Beelier (Noongar) the Canning River and Bewitched. The inclusion of Tamil and Noongar language introduces cultural awareness and invites conversation about language diversity. With its variety and accessibility, this is a text that warrants multiple readings. As a teaching resource, If I Could Eat the Stars lends itself perfectly to modelling, comparison activities and creative writing tasks across the primary years. Illustrations by Briony Stewart add another visual dimension to the text and the list of poets in the final pages provides a valuable reference for further research.
Grave Robbing and Other Curious Activities is a book I truly think more students should read. It offers a lot more than a strange mystery. The story is about Alexander Steeple, a boy who lives in his family’s mortuary. This unusual setting makes the book really stand out. The book has a spooky atmosphere that feels timeless. The story explores what happens when a body mysteriously disappears, which pushes Alex into an investigation that makes him face his fears. He discovers strengths he didn't know he had. McKerrow uses the mortuary and small-town setting to create tension, humour and curiosity. He shows readers that even strange places can teach us something. Through Alex’s journey we see how he solves the mystery. He trusts his instincts, pays attention to details and slowly builds his confidence. This makes him a relatable and inspiring character. The people around him and his mother and the strange townsfolk add depth and personality to the story. Key themes in the book are courage, belonging and embracing what makes you different, which are woven naturally into the plot. This makes the book not only fun but also meaningful. What I learned from this novel is that feeling different isn't something to hide - it can actually become your strength. That message alone makes this book worth recommending to anyone who enjoys mysteries with heart and originality.
Smyan A. (Student)
Wild Darling by Alexandra Moody
Electric Monkey, 2026. ISBN: 9780008794149.
Parker Darling is ready to step up as a team captain, now that his older brothers have moved on, but things don’t go as planned when he finds out his coach is someone that already dislikes him for a mistake he made in his past. A mistake that involves the coach’s daughter, Mackenzie Foster. Kenzie loves hockey as much as Parker, but she’s constantly being benched by her dad, and forced to sit on the sidelines, even though she’s more than capable of proving herself. When circumstances push them into working together, the tension is undeniable, and what starts as frustration quickly turns into something much harder to ignore.
Parker is competitive, confident, and always used to being in control, but underneath the façade, is someone trying to live up to expectations and prove that he can be someone without his brothers around. Kenzie, on the other hand, is strong, determined, and not afraid of a challenge, even if it means going against her father for her place in the team. Kenzie and Parker’s dynamic is full of tension, banter and that constant push and pull that makes you want to keep reading just to see who gives in first.
Wild Darling is a book about identity, pressure, and learning to trust others when you can’t even trust yourself. The characters feel real and relatable, especially in the way they deal with expectations, whether themselves or from family, and their struggle to prove their worth. Kenzie’s determination to prove she belongs on the team adds a strong layer of empowerment, while Parker is on his own journey to show that confidence doesn’t always mean you have everything figured out.
The book is set in a familiar, small, tight-knit community where reputations stick, where it feels like everyone is watching your every move, especially when it comes to hockey. The plot is more character-driven than action heavy, focusing on the balance between emotional tension and character development, than on big dramatic twists. It’s the kind of story that builds up slowly, with meaningful moments, small interactions, and just enough angst to keep you hooked. The kind that makes you pause, smile, and get frustrated when characters are this close to admitting how they feel.
Themes of vulnerability, pressure, gender expectations in sports, and emotional growth are woven throughout the novel. Even though it’s a clean romance, it still captures the intensity of first love, hesitation, and the fear of getting hurt. It’s soft but still full of feeling, and the slow-burn dynamic makes everything hit just a little harder.
For fans of books like Better Than the Movies or The Summer I Turned Pretty, Wild Darling is definitely worth the read. It’s sweet, emotional, and full of tension, with just the right amount of banter and heart to keep you completely invested.
Themes: Vulnerability, Identity, Pressure, Emotional Growth, Sports & Gender Roles, First Love
Hamsini C. (Student)
Serendipity by Gabbie Benda
Penguin Random House, 2026. ISBN: 9781761621352. (Age:8-12+)
Serendipity, Dippy to her friends, is a super confident middle schooler, a popular student representative, talented basketball player and she has a leading part in the school play, Macbecky. Her confidence comes with a belief that she is lucky and cannot fail while fortune smiles on her. When she wins tickets to the local carnival Dippy is oblivious to the fact that she is unprepared for her role in the school and selfish with the ball at basketball practice in her eagerness to rush off and have fun with best friend Basil at the carnival. They have a great time but an accidental toppling of Zam Zam, the mechanical fortune telling machine leaves Dippy believing she has been cursed. Just like that, her luck seems to have run out and she is fearful that people won’t like her if she is not lucky. Rather than take responsibility for her failures, for being overcommitted and disorganised, she sets out to find a way to lift the curse. In spite of misgivings, Basil sticks by her but Serendipity has to find out for herself that she is responsible for her own success and that being a team player and working with others is worth more than luck. The colourful cartoon style is packed with interesting detail and action and the red filter denoting a dramatic change of emotion works very well when Basil vents her frustration that Dippy blames bad luck rather than lack of effort for her failures. I was a bit disappointed to find out Basil was a girl as it worked quite well for the character to be genderless. My other reservation was the image on page 209 of a player holding on to the basketball hoop after a successful shot, which is dangerous and considered a foul in many codes. Otherwise this is a fun, and engaging read with an appealing set of characters and some worthwhile messages.
Themes Graphic novel, friendship, cartoon humour.
Sue Speck
A tiny little world by Joel Sorrensen
Little Steps, 2025. ISBN: 9781923306257. (Age:4-8 years)
A tiny little world has a somewhat jolting storyline partially because, to read it, the reader must follow text that swirls around, moves in waves and other patterns and has to be found in different places on different pages. The spread layout is quite a thing not always providing the reader with sufficient clues about how to progress through the story. Tracking between the complex pictures and the "mostly" matching text is a challenge that some children may enjoy. Other children may find it a challenge to hold the storyline whilst simultaneously being distracted by the vibrant art. It is definitely a book that calls for high energy interactive shared reading.
The strength of A tiny little world is in its artistic layout with the author/artist Joel Sorrensen focussing more on the visual/artistic impact leaving the story line playing a subordinate role. Some effort from the reader is required to follow the text and match it to the pictures to make sense of the plot.
The cover art is bold, bright and cartoonish. Throughout the book the double page spreads cover edge to edge with very little white space. Busyness, complexity, detail, brilliant colour and energy fill the entire pages with text (like a puzzle) having to be found. The typography, like the art, is a feature of A tiny little world. Font style, sizing and placement contribute to the artistic impact of the book. Bursts of colour help with emphasis when reading. These aspects of design encourage an active and energetic interaction with the text and accompanying artwork.
The young reader is cast as a space explorer in the front matter with a box to write their name in under the text... 'This book belongs to space explorer_' Like the cover, the front and back end pages give an idea of the exotic, crazy, bright world packed with weird sights that are found in the book. The end papers at the back include a colouring page and a blank page with a request to draw your own planet or creature. Set in deep space, the pictures are populated with strange and exotic alien creatures and backdrops and the eye is drawn to action in different locations on the pages.
The central character is an endearing little lizard named Rexy. Something new burns through the atmosphere and lands in his world and the adventure begins leading to a changed life for Rexy. Sorrensen uses exclamatory language "Watch out...!", strings of adjectives..." tall ,lanky, keen, lean, glowing, green grass grazer.", alliteration... "Suddenly, some slimy, slippery sliders surrounded them.", rhyme and rythm and other forms of word play for the enjoyment of young readers.
While some readers (adults) may find A tiny little world a little contrived and the message of small consequence, others may see it as a lot of energetic fun and a very good book for children who need a lot of high energy interaction in a book in order to capture attention.
A tiny little world could lend itself well to graphic novel format. This reader can see it being used as a stimulus in the art classroom and being useful for primary aged children who enjoy drawing. By and large, the standout aspect of A tiny little world is Sorrensen's encouragement of the creative, artistic side of the child. That has to be a very good thing.
Themes Finding a friend, Space, Aliens, Helping, Searching.
On each page an illustration reflects the united humanity of us all. We are all of one race, the human race, and Gregg Dreise’s stunning images reflect the techniques he has used in previous books, Silly birds and Cunning crow being two of my favourites.
Back and white hands join together ont the cover, both part of the greater race to which we all belong. And this is repeated throughout the book. In rhyming pairs of lines, Dreise propels his ideas, using words such as humanity, unity, kindness, compassion, empathy and equality, and phrases like, walking side by side, and racism will not exist with equality.
On each page, readers will see a wonderfully panorama inviting children to look closely at the details on each page and read the succinct words accompanying the illustration. On one page the dove of peace moves over the blue background with the words humanity written across its body. Several pages reveal an image of the world, showing that we are all one race, the human race. Another page shows a staircase leads upwards but only one group of people are on the staircase, others are behind the bars of the prison beneath. The image of Uluru is enclosed by the arms a black and white, going their hands together over the sunrise.
Most pages are full of positive words, using words such as compassion and equality. But some pages show the results of the ugliness of racism, people in prison, a family being vilified, people kowtowing to a leader. Each of these will promote deeper thought and discussion amongst children about the lack of opportunity afforded to some, in a country which promotes more.
Themes Aboriginal themes, Racism, Humanity.
Fran Knight
Diary of a Wimpy Kid: The last straw by Jeff Kinney
The Last Straw by Jeff Kinney, the third instalment in the hugely popular Diary of a Wimpy Kid series featuring a special movie themed cover, proves once again why readers can’t get enough of Greg Heffley’s chaotic life. Packed with laugh-out-loud moments, awkward situations and brilliant cartoon illustrations, this book continues the series’ winning formula while celebrating its ongoing popularity.
At the centre of the story is Greg, who once again finds himself dealing with the everyday disasters of growing up. From dodging responsibility to trying to impress people who barely notice him, Greg’s schemes are both ridiculous and oddly believable. One of the funniest subplots in the book begins when Greg receives a Christmas present from his uncle: a basketball hoop laundry basket. To Greg, this is not a gift - it’s a terrible hint that he’s now expected to do his own washing. What follows is a hilarious series of attempts to avoid laundry duty, including creative (and questionable) ways to rewear dirty clothes.
Greg’s problems don’t stop there. His dad becomes determined to toughen him up and even considers sending him to military academy. Greg’s frantic efforts to prove he’s brave and responsible lead to one ridiculous disaster after another. Add in his awkward crush on a girl who barely knows he exists, and readers are treated to a perfect storm of embarrassing and funny situations.
Kinney’s signature black and white cartoons perfectly complement the text, often delivering punchlines that make the jokes even funnier. The diary format, and balance between text and illustration, makes the story accessible and engaging; especially for reluctant readers or those building reading confidence.
The Last Straw feels almost like watching a stand-up comedy routine on the page. The humour is constant, the pace is quick and the situations are delightfully exaggerated, while still grounded in real childhood experiences.
Perfect for middle-grade readers, this book encourages laughter and reminds us that nobody has life completely figured out - especially not Greg Heffley…. although he would certainly beg to differ!
The Chateau on Sunset is written by bestselling, Perth based author Natasha Lester. With this book, Lester has shifted from historical fiction to modern historical fiction with The Chateau on Sunset being set in the 1950-1970ish time period rather than the 1900s-1940s period settings of her previous novels. Although The Chateau on Sunset is fiction it is based almost entirely on real events (for example the 16-year-old Natalie Wood affair with the 44-year-old Nicholas Ray (the director of Rebel without a cause) was conducted in a bungalow at the Chateau Marmont). The Chateau on Sunset is a fine example of the german term - gothic "bildungsroman" which is a literary genre of formation that focuses on the psychological and moral growth of the protagonist from youth to adulthood. Aria Jones arrives as a 14-year-old girl in the 1950s and her maturation is followed through to her early twenties.
The Chateau Marmont very much existed and still exists at 8221 Sunset Boulevard and it was a place where rising and falling Hollywood stars and starlets resided and partied. Marilyn Munroe, Grace Kelly and Bette Davis regularly stayed at the Chateau Marmont. Lester depicts the neon skyline surrounding the Marmont including the famous 20 foot high neon silhouette of Beryl Wallace over the Hollywood studios, and the famous pharmacy/drugstore frequented by stars - Schwab's Pharmacy.
The Chateau Marmont is known for its gothic architecture, its private bungalows and as a discreet Hollywood hideaway for celebrities. It is a character itself in this book (quite sentient) reminiscent of other great houses in literature including the great house, Thornfield Hall, where Jane Eyre falls in love with Rochester. Aria Jones is orphaned as was Jane Eyre. The Chateau Marmont is similar to Thornfield Hall as it is a large, spooky house redolent with nasty secrets. Like Jane falling in love with Rochester, Aria falls in love with Theo Winchester (a mysterious wealthy rock singer). Both girls fall in love with a man far above their own station in life. Both weddings are interrupted by the presence of former wives/partners, one is confined to an attic/ the other is kept in one of the bungalows at the Chateau Marmont. Both Jane Eyre and Aria Jones flee to safeguard their integrity and to achieve for themselves in life. Jane inherits a fortune/Aria - well it is best to not give away too much of the plot. It is enough to say that Aria Jones' life mirrors Jane Eyre's life but is placed in a different era and context. Aria Jones is certainly a feisty survivor.
The glitz and glamour and the dangerous and tawdry side of the Golden Age of Hollywood are the subject of The Chateau on Sunset. The strongest parts of the book are when the action occurs within the Chateau. As Aria plots her life's course in glamorous locations beyond the Chateau, something big drops away for the reader. The Chateau looms large and is missed.
Although it may seem unlikely that a lonely, innocent orphan girl could win the friendship of worldly girls, exhibit so much boldness and become an almost agony aunt rescuing starlets from lecherous Hollywood movie directors and exacting lasting revenge and although it seems unlikely that such a girl could catch the eye of Theo Winchester, this is fiction. This is unashamedly a reworking of Jane Eyre, placing the classic story into modern historical times.
Like Jane Eyre, The Chateau on Sunset is told through the first person perspective of the heroine Aria. The reader is drawn into her perspective through her sassy thoughts and reactions - open at any page and it is evident eg..."The door of the turret bursts open. Holy shit! Why at the most crucial junctures of my life does someone burst into the turret?" (p.175)
The Chateau on Sunset is a romp of a book- full of mystery and secrets that will keep the reader captivated.
Themes Sexual abuse/scandal in the Hollywood entertainment industry, Loyalty, Friendship, The Jane Eyre story, Revenge and redemption, Romance.
Wendy Jeffrey
Green Cities by Sheila Boudreau. Illus. by Katy Dockrill
University of Queensland Press, 2026. ISBN: 9780702271175. (Age:10-14 years) Highly recommended.
Green Cities: How green infrastructure helps heal the planet is a fascinating look at a growing movement of providing a possible solution to climate change issues. Written by a Canadian university lecturer, landscape artist and urban planner who specialises in green infrastructure, this very green looking book is an excellent introduction for upper primary - early secondary students to show how positive action is being taken to future-proof cities against climate change. This new edition has been adapted for the Australian market but does use examples from all over the world.
Presented in a traditional nonfiction format, with a contents page, an introduction, four clearly defined chapters, and a concluding section featuring a detailed glossary, selected resources, and an index, this book offers accessible information supported by softly muted illustrations. Although the text is substantial, it is thoughtfully spaced and enhanced with bold headings and visual features such as coloured text boxes, quote circles, large images, and labelled diagrams to engage the reader’s attention
The introduction, A Green Way, gives a brief overview of what we already have in our cities and what this book hopes to achieve. Each of the four chapters provides further information, ideas, examples of green architecture already happening across the world and how readers can play a part in greening their cities.
· Chapter 1: Cities: A great Invention that Could Be Even Better · Chapter 2: Nature First: Creating Greener Cities · Chapter 3: Going Green: Green Infrastructure in Action · Conclusion: Making Our Future even Greener
In Chapter 2, pages 16-17, the topic: Learning from Indigenous Knowledge discusses how for over 60,000 years, First Nations Peoples have lived in harmony with Country which encompasses land, sea, sky, living things, knowledge systems, cultural practices and responsibilities associated with each area. Being connected to Country can enable people to understand things differently and take greater responsibility for nature and the ongoing effects of climate change. The author suggests that governments would be wise to include First Nations voices in future planning decisions.
Green Cities would be a valuable addition to schools and public libraries.
Themes Renew Urban Spaces, Climate Change, Green Infrastructure, Nature, Relationships, Sustainability, First Nations Knowledge, Engineering.
Kathryn Beilby
Dog stayed by Tammy Forster & Margeaux Davis
Allen & Unwin, 2026. ISBN: 9781761181191. (Age:3+) Highly recommended.
Young readers will quickly grasp the loneliness of the old man, as he waves his cane at people, blows his nose when they try to speak to him. He doesn’t like looking at old photographs, or cooking, or sleeping in his large bed. Children will readily sympathise with the old man sleeping alone, cooking for himself and having no one else in his house. And hope for something to change.
And it does. One day a salesman stops at his house. Blowing his nose, the man sees him off his property, telling him to take his scruffy dog with him. But the dog stays. And each day when Mr Hindbottom goes about his chores, the dog is there. One evening a scrap of food is thrown from the window and the dog eats it. This keeps happening over the next few nights, and as the days become cooler, an old quilt is added to the giveaways. One day the old man takes the dog into the bathroom to give the dog a bath, figuring that if the dog is going to stay then at least he can smell nice.
Dog teaches the old man when it is the best time to take a walk, and what treats are the best. Mr Hindbottom teaches the dog when to run, and how to pack as he puts things into the ute for an excursion. And soon people came to see Mr Hindbottom, and he never blows his nose as they speak. But too, he begins to have less energy, he can no longer walk to the letterbox, and seems content to stay in his pyjamas all day.
When he is no longer there, all sorts of things happen at the house, but the dog stays, sure he will love no one else.
But the new owners look at the old scruffy dog and take him as their own, a new season in his life begins.
A charming tale of the changes in life, of life and death, to the seasons of life, the phases, and times of transition. Children will love the warmth between the old man and the dog, and be heartened that the dog will have another person to love.
The change in his circumstances leads him to another phase in his life.
The lovely illustrations match the warmth of the story, giving a loving treatment to the old man, his boredom and loneliness sympathetically shown. Children will readily see snatches of the wife, now no longer there: photos on the wall, her knitting wool next to her empty chair, the handmade quilt, two placemats at the table, her book and creams still on the bedside table next to her empty bed space. All these and more are wonderfully shown, not needing words, but adding to the text. And astute readers will see the difference between the first and last endpaper.
Drake is sneezing, Drake is sick. Can his friends help cure him, quick?
Drake is a little dragon who cannot control his sneezes. When he is put to bed with a bad cold his friends give him a hot broth but it is so hot that when he sneezes, he sets a fire truck alight. Mary has a great idea and makes him a cold concoction but when he sneezes, he covers Mary with snow. Finally when he tries a moderate brew, bubbles come out of his bum, and then Drake decides that bubbles are fun and everyone goes out to play.
This is a great early reader that has many uses. An adult can read it aloud to a young child, getting them to predict the rhyming words at the end of each sentence and try and predict what is going to happen. They could then begin to read along with an adult. The large print and humorous, brightly coloured illustrations are a boon for the beginning reader who could read the story alone. There are instructions for the adult on how to use the book, guidelines for drawing Drake and a list of new words to learn.
This is a series that appeals to children and has a place in a home and school library.
