Reading Age: 9+ Feed

Night Sky Dragons by Mal Peet and Elspeth Graham

Night Sky DragonsWalker Books, London, 2014

Hardback, 64 pages

ISBN: 978-1-4063-0985-0

Suggested reading age: 9+

Reviewed by: Indrani Perera

Rating: ****

Yazul is a young boy who lives in a remote han, a place of safety along the Silk Road.  He father is the lord of the han and Yazul spends his days in his grandfather's workshop learning the art of building kites.  His father wants Yazul to give up kite making with his grandfather and learn to be a lord.  Yazul is torn in two, between his love of kites and his love for his father.  Night Sky Dragons is the story of how Yazul finds a way to please his father and fly his kites.

 


Running with the Horses by Alison Lester

Running with the HorsesPenguin, Australia, 2009

Hardback, 32 pages

ISBN: 978-0-670-86833-9

Suggested reading age: 9+

Reviewed by: Indrani Perera

Rating: ****

A fabulous tale of adventure and bravery from wonderful Australian author and illustrator, Alison Lester.  Nina and her father, Viktor the stable master,  live above the palace stables at the Royal Academy of Dancing Horses.  Nina dreams of of one day becoming a rider at the Academy.  Her dreams are dashed when war rips throughout the country, forcing Nina, her father and Karl the groom to take the remaining Academy horses on a long and perilous journey across the mountains to her grandparent's home.


Sam, Grace and the Shipwreck by Michelle Gillespie and Sonia Martinez

Sam, Grace and the ShipwreckFreemantle Press, Freemantle WA, 2011

Hardback, 32 pages

ISBN: 978-1-9216-9600-8

Suggested reading age: 9+

Reviewed by: Indrani Perera

Rating: ****

I'm loving the great children's books I'm finding at our local library that celebrate Australian history.  I don't remember books like these from when I was growing up and they're a welcome addition to the great pantheon of children's literature.  Australian children deserve to have stories that tell of their unique history and culture.

This book is based on a true story of a shipwreck off the south coast of Western Australia in 1876. Michelle Gillespie has managed to make this tale come alive with a beautiful retelling of events and portrayal of the two main characters - 16 year old Grace and stockman Sam.  The story is ably illustrated by the talented Sonia Martinez.


The Sailor Who Captured the Sea by Deborah Nourse Lattimore

The Sailor who captrued the seaHarperCollins Publishers, Place, 1999

Hardback, 32 pages

ISBN: 978-0-0602-3710-3

Suggested reading age: 9+

Reviewed by: Indrani Perera

Rating: ****

In this lavishly illustrated book, Ms Lattimore tells the story of three Irish brothers who worked on illustrating the Book Of Kells. The brothers lived in a time invasion from Viking lords and Irish kings. Beautiful Celtic knot work and sensitive illustrations compliment the story of an artist finding his voice. 

Other books in this series: The Flame of Peace: A Tale of the Aztecs; The Prince and the Golden Axe: A Minoan Tale; Why There is No Arguing in Heaven: A Mayan Myth


The Third Gift by Linda Sue Park & Bagram Ibatoulline

The Third GiftClarion Books, Boston MA, 2011

Hardback, 32 pages

ISBN: 13 digits

Suggested reading age: 9+

Reviewed by: Indrani Perera

Rating: ****

A young boy journeys across the desert with his father, collecting tears. The tears are pearls of sap that seep from a stunted, knotty, spiny tree when his father cuts the bark with his axe. His father knows by smelling a leaf and feeling the bark, which trees we give the best tears. The tears dry on the tree and are broken off quickly and carefully. They are used for medicines, to flavour wines and the most expensive ones are used for funerals. However, this time, the biggest tear has another destiny.


Swallows and Amazons by Arthur Ransome

Swallow and AmazonsJonathan Cape Ltd, London, 1987

Hardcover, 384 pages

ISBN: 9780224606318

Suggested reading age: 9+

Reviewed by: Indrani Perera

Rating: *****

Swallows and Amazons is a classic of English literature in the grand old adventure style.  You know the books - ones where the kids go off on amazing adventures with nary an adult in sight.  The difference with the Swallows and Amazons series of books, however, is that they are eminently believable.  The adventures are thrilling and daring, filled with imagination but not so far-fetched that they appear ludicrous or unbelievable.  A family friend lent me this book when I was twelve and I gobbled it up, nautical terms and all.  Learning to sail a boat is still on my bucket list!

In Swallows and Amazons, the first book in the series, we meet Susan, John, Titty and Roger who are on holidays at Dixon's farm with their mother and baby sister.  Their father is away in the navy and they are all keen sailors. They manage to convince their mother to let them camp out on an island in the river.  They use their boat, the Swallow, to ferry across to the island their tents, sleeping bags, cooking equipment and food.  Fresh supplies are rowed to them daily by the "natives" at the farm.  The story describes how the Swallows meet the Amazons and the adventures they have together.

Older readers will be able to read this book, younger readers may need to have it read to them.  It is quite dense and doesn't talk down.  You may find yourself frantically googling nautical terms to explain them to your curious child!

Other titles in this series - Swallowdale, Winter Holiday, Peter Duck, Secret Water, Coot Club, We Didn't Mean to Go to Sea, The Picts and the Martyrs, The Big Six, Great Northern, Pigeon Post, Missee Lee.