Mary Fowler: The beach party by Mary Fowler with Jasmin McGaughey. Illus. by Cate James

Maz (Mary) is rushing to finish a birthday card for her friend, Anthony. She and Summer are going to his beach party and Summer’s Dad let her sleep over. They’ve bought Anthony a Frisbee and can’t wait to give it to him. Keema Mitaru, Jazarah, Anthony and their parents are also waiting for the leisurely birthday party at the beach. It begins with building sandcastles until Aunty Shay’s dog, Firecracker, knocks their best one over. Is the gangly dog disgraced or forgiven?  When it’s time to break out the hallowed Frisbee it’s no surprise that Maz makes the game a team sport, after all Mary Fowler is set to grow into one of Australia’s fastest rising sporting legends. After a misjudged throw, nobody can save the Frisbee from becoming more plastic flotsam out at sea…how will the game and the celebration continue?

Penguin describes the titles in this new Mary Fowler series pitched at readers aged 5-9 yrs as “A vibrant new series from football star Mary Fowler about friendship, sport and fun”.  The large juvenile font and greyscale illustrations by Cate James of Beach Party are coloured in our hearts and minds by the words of a handful of young friends, who are learning to cooperate to maximize fun and belonging.

Author, Jasmin McGaughey with Mary, has penned this bright breezy 87 page adventure.  Penguin appended a page of information about Mary Fowler’s origins and national soccer debut with the Mathildas.  Beach Party launched alongside the book Mary’s Game, assures readers there are more stories to come in this new lower grade Mary Fowler series! Lower primary school students are sure relate to Mary Fowler’s own childhood – real or imagined.  Highly recommended. 87p.

Themes: Mary Fowler, Birthdays, Friendship, Sport, Teams, Safety.

Deborah Robins