Children's Books > M Children's Books > P > S

Advantages: A fantasy book with a difference, (makes a nice change).
Disadvantages: Wish I'd read it ages ago.

...Firstly there's the title - Muddle Earth, and secondly the artwork. We're presented with a strange looking bunch of characters; including a boy with a saucepan on his head, a three eyed ogre, and a dragon that looks as if it's seen better days. It intrigued me enough to want to check out the first few pages and what I saw made me realise that I was going to enjoy this book and I still hadn't read the back cover yet! Before you even get to the first ...
...line It begins on Muddle Earth, when the three moons are rising in the sky, one purple (like a batbird), one yellow (like an ogre's underpants on washday) and one rather reluctant to appear green moon. Randalf the Wise is preparing to cast a spell; the three moons are aligned, he has the pointed hat, the scroll for the spell to summon a warrier hero (well, most of it anyway) and Veronica, the bossy budgie wittering on at him! Enter Joe Jefferson, ... Read review

Advantages: Great ending to the Twig sequence
Disadvantages: Ending to the Twig sequence

Minight Over Sanctaphrax is a great ending to the twig sequence and my favourite of the three books in the Twig series . Twig, now a young sky pirate and captin, ventures into open sky to find his father in the great mother storm. But his sky ship is destroyed and Twig looses all memory of his journey and the secret he need to remember to save Santaphrax. Twig must venture into the darkest parts of undertown to rescue his crew others in the deepwoods ...
...put the book down. The beutifull illustrations add real meaning to the the story and involve the reader even more than in previous books. Paul Stewart has exelled himself in this brilliant book and he pieces together the final parts of the puzzle. For instance we discover the secrets of riverrise and meet charaters like Vox Verlix and Cowlquape in thier earlier years. The book is writen in great detail and you are constanly involved in the plot. ... Read review

Advantages: great book really captivating
Disadvantages: none

Justin Somper has made this book brilliant and inspiring. Anthony Horowitz described it as "Totally Original". This book is amazingly based around an old sea shanty about Vampirates. It is quoted below: "I'll tell you a tale of Vampirates, A tale as old as true. Yea, I'll sing you a song of an ancient ship, And it's mighty fearsome crew. Yea, I'll sing you a song of an ancient ship, That sails the oceans blue... That haunts the oceans blue. ...
...wings in flight. They say the captain, he wears a veil So as to curtail your fright At his death-pale skin And his lifeless eyes And his teeth as sharp as night. Oh, they say the captain, he wears a veil And his eyes never see the light. "You'd better be good, child - good as gold, As good as good can be. Else I'll turn you in to the Vampirates And wave you out to sea. Yes, you'd better be good, child - good as gold, Because - look! ... Read review

Advantages: see review
Disadvantages: see review

...on the pavement outside of Laura's window. Laura rushes outside with her torch to take a closer look at the star. Laura is in awe of the stars beauty, but then notices that a point of the star has broken off. Laura gently carries the star back into her house and manages to stick the broken point of the star back on. Laura then takes the star into her bed and tells it her secrets. When she wakes up in the morning the star has disappeared. Laura ...
...lots of fun detail, like Laura's dragon mug and plate of cookies. Teddy peeps out from under the duvet. This is a lovely, touching story of friendship and putting the needs of others before your own needs. It can be read on many different levels. A very young child will love the illustrations and simple story. For an older child the story can help with a discussion about the needs of others and important friendships. My son and I discussed how important ... Read review

Advantages: fun book for children
Disadvantages: none

Class Three all at Sea is written by Julia Jarman and illustrated by Lynne Chapman, tells of an exciting day when Class Three goes off on a trip out to sea. It starts off as the class is waiting on the quay and we see the children's excited faces watching donkeys dancing and seagulls skimming stones. However, there is something in the background that they don't see - a skull and cross bones! They board the boat, happily donning life jackets, blissfully ...
...the ship and behave very badly towards the children, their teacher and the crew. A little boy called Lenny is made to walk the plank by the mean pirates and it's a jolly good thing he does because he eventually saves the day. He alerts some rather large octopuses who rescue the children by going on board and tying all the pirates in knots with their tentacles! The children then head towards the pirates' secret island where, much to their excitement, ... Read review