Children's Books > Patricia MacLachlan Children's Books

Advantages: Lovely way to start to count
Disadvantages: None

Count On Goz by Steve Weatherill A great way for very young children to be introduced to counting up to 5 and to learn about number formation. Children do tend to enjoy lift the flap books, so it's almost certainly going to be a winner. Many children will already be familiar with Goz, the appealing yellow gosling. This time, we meet Goz in the early morning, near the river when everything is quiet. A little yellow goose is bottoms up... "Who's ...
...as developing an ability to count and recognise numbers to 5. The simple text means that it is suitable for National Curriculum Reading, because children can easily see and be encouraged to point out capital letters, full stops and question marks. Because the animals are easily distinguishable, even if they can't read the words, they can be encouraged to use picture clues. A useful book for very young children who are beginning to count. Thanks ... Read review

Advantages: Talking Rats!
Disadvantages: A Trombone with keys

...from lack of food. The rats are great characters and their gradual discovery that the book they thought was factual is a childrens story. A mayors curious daughter who spends her time searching for stories that she is sure must exist. This book has a great outcome, a brilliant match of who is the greatest Rat Piper with Keith managing to win using a trombone (which has keys if you own a 1st edition but has been corrected to not having keys in later ... Read review

Advantages: Delightful story and illustrations
Disadvantages: Only available in hardback at time of writing - expensive

...talent to fulfil her ambition. Noko's Surprise Party is her latest picture book and is a follow-up to Noko and the Night Monster. As Takadu the aardvark and Noko the porcupine have been friends for so long, it is only natural that Takadu wants to plan a party for Noko's birthday, but it is to be a surprise. Takadu goes to considerable trouble to write and hand out invitations to Mrs. Warthog, Bat-eared Fox, Pangolin (a scaly anteater), Velvet Monkey ...
...it is a story that provides a great deal of enjoyment, complemented by delightful illustrations. A whole-hearted recommendation. Noko's Surprise Party by Fiona Moodie Hardback, 32 Pages Frances Lincoln Publishers, 2007 ISBN 1845075870 Price £11.99 (£7.91 on Amazon) This is a printed book, not an audio book. ... Read review

Advantages: Some fun stories
Disadvantages: I'd read most of them in other collections

I've long been a fan of Neil Gaiman, as he is one of those writers who can mix the fantastical with the real and make it feel somehow natural. His writing has a kind of credibility that means when Neil Gaiman tells you something unbelievable, you start keeping half an eye out for it, just in case. I've read most of Gaiman's novels and short story collections, but had never dipped into the writing he aims at a slightly younger audience. Given that ...
...I wasn't anticipating any major difference in his writing for the different audience, particularly in a collection of short stories. That is exactly what I got, as "M is for Magic" is a collection of stories specially selected for the audience, but not written specifically for the audience. Indeed, of the eleven stories contained within, I had read eight of them previously, as four stories are featured from each of his previous collections aimed ... Read review

Advantages: continues from Eragon
Disadvantages: maybe a little too long

Eldest continues the story following Eragon - a former farm boy who upon discovering a dragon egg is to become a rider, allied with saphira and others to aid the Varden (a rebellion group) against the evil king Galbatorix - I personally loved this story much like i enjoyed the previous book titled Eragon. In Eldest the plot thickens with the introduction of new and exciting characters and the exploration of existing characters. As well as being full ...
...i have discovered Eragon and Eldest to be criticized for apparent similarities to Star wars. Thinking about this i can say that there are similarities. but no one should be put off by this, i counter such criticism with the simple fact, starwars is spaceships, lasers and explosions, where as the inheritence sequence is dragons, swords and magic. more to the point starwars is awesome, so surely a few similarities are not unwelcome. The only criticism ... Read review