VanessaHemson - home

<h2>Okay, so have any of you ever been coerced into buying the latest 'must have' best seller for your baby, toddler, pre-school or big kid only to discover it's a total dud and it holds neither your childs imagination or yours. Have you ever been tricked into buying a book online by that old...... &quot;people who bought this might also enjoy this&quot; routine.</h2>
 <h2>Well this wiki space is going to be an online, interactive space for people in the real world... i.e mum's and dad's desperate to read an interesting and engaging story at the end of what was probably a loooooooooong day. A book that delights both the parent and child.</h2>
 <h2>This is book reviewing for the real world. ONLY books that work. Please.</h2>
 <h2>So feel free to add your books and ideas. I have helped you along a bit by using a scaffold. This helps you identify what you liked and also what didn't work as well in the story and the I is for Interesting... anything else you feel worthy of comment.</h2>
 <h2>So I hope you enjoy. Feel free to cut and paste a picture of the book so we can see what it looks like next time we're browsing around. Comment on other people's reviews (initial each contribution). Add to my table if you think it needs anything else and we will collectively create a list worthy of a Top 100 Kids Books of all Time. That's my goal.</h2>
 <h2>Enjoy and remember to be honest... And if you feel like chatting some more then post something on the Discussion Forum.</h2>

<table class="wiki_table">
 <tr>
 <td><h1>Name of Book</h1>
</td>
 <td><h1>Author</h1>
</td>
 <td><h1>Ideal Reading Age</h1>
</td>
 <td><h1>Positives/Things you like</h1>
</td>
 <td><h1>Negatives/ Things You Don't Like</h1>
</td>
 <td><h1>Interesting.... Anything else you want to say.....</h1>
</td>
 <td><h1>Score Out of 5</h1>
</td>
 <td><h1>Who are you?</h1>
</td>
 </tr>
 <tr>
 <td><img src="http://www.bookworm.com.au/shopper/img/p102623_03.jpg" alt="" title="" style="width: 100px;" /> 
</td>
 <td>Mem Fox 
</td>
 <td>1-3 
</td>
 <td>A really simple story that teaches kids about colours, nouns and verbs. Beautiful illustrations. 
Simple and easy to read. Perfect when mum's brain is scrambled from a busy day. 
</td>
 <td>Trying really hard to think of one. 
</td>
 <td>Mem Fox is a prolific author of kids books. If you analyse the story of Where is The Green Sheep it is incredibly simple yet this wasn't one of Mem Fox's first books. I think this is inspiration for anyone wanting to write a good children's book. It doesn't have to be complicated and clever, just well told. What's the catch for this one? Do kids really want to find out... Where is the green sheep? 
</td>
 <td>3 
</td>
 <td>Vanessa 
Two girls 
Edie 3 and a half 
Isla 1 
</td>
 </tr>
 <tr>
 <td>The things I love about Me 
</td>
 <td>Tracey Moroney 
</td>
 <td>3-6yrs 
</td>
 <td>A simple, yet elegantly written story endeavouring to teach young children a sense of self-worth and self-love. To encourage positive thinking about everyday situations. 
</td>
 <td>None 
</td>
 <td>Tracy Moroney writes a series of &quot;Things I love&quot; books, using positive psychology as the base lesson for each title. Her illustrations are bright and engaging, drawing young readers into each story. 
</td>
 <td>4 
</td>
 <td>Bron 
Two girls, 3.5yrs and 2yrs. 
</td>
 </tr>
 <tr>
 <td>The Gruffalo 
</td>
 <td>Julia 
Donaldson 
</td>
 <td>3-6 
</td>
 <td>Great rhyming adventure story using great descriptive language. A brave, clever little mouse uses his imagination to create a scary monster friend, but is he really imaginary? 
</td>
 <td>Some kids may find it a bit scary 
</td>
 <td>This book appeals very much to my boys who love the creation of the Gruffalo as the book is read. Donaldson is a children's book author and playwright. As with lots of excellent kids books the plot is not overly literal, but rather allows children to draw their own conclusions. Imagination can be a very powerful thing! 
This book was made into a short but very good quality BBC animation too. 
</td>
 <td>4 
</td>
 <td>Xanthe 
Two boys 
3.5 yrs &amp; 2yrs 
</td>
 </tr>
 <tr>
 <td>Half Moon Investigations 
</td>
 <td>Eoin Colfer 
</td>
 <td>11 yrs 
</td>
 <td>Good book, lots of action, funny, character descriptions are very good 
</td>
 <td>None 
</td>
 <td>How fletcher gets kidnapped by Red 
 
As per my son Calvin 
</td>
 <td>5 
</td>
 <td>Heleen, 3 boys aged 12,10 &amp; 3 
</td>
 </tr>
 <tr>
 <td>We All Went on Safari 
</td>
 <td>Laurie Krebs &amp; Julia Cairns 
</td>
 <td>1+ 
</td>
 <td>It has something for all youngsters - be it the rhyming element for the littlies as we go on a journey through the African bush or the counting and info about animals for when children are a little older. It also includes animals that don't often feature in stories such as a warthog and wildebeest. My boys have asked for this book to be read over and over again. 
</td>
 <td>We have a paperback copy and while hardcover is available, a board book would be perfect for extra durability! 
</td>
 <td>Our household loves this book. It gives children an insight into another world - in this case Tanzania. At the back of the book is additional info about the Maasai, the meanings of different Swahili words as well as a map and facts about Tanzania. Thumbs up! 
</td>
 <td>4 
</td>
 <td>Yvette - 3 boys aged 4, 3 &amp; 7 months 
</td>
 </tr>
 <tr>
 <td>Down by the cool of the Pool 
</td>
 <td>Tony Mitton &amp; Guy Parker-Rees 
</td>
 <td>2-6 yrs 
</td>
 <td>Just a joy to read! My kids love this book. It was a favourite of my 10 year old when she was little and it is a favourite of my 4 year old now. It is just a beautifully written, fun, happy tale with great illustrations. 
</td>
 <td>There is no sequel! 
</td>
 <td>It is still one of my favourites and I am 44! 
</td>
 <td>5 
</td>
 <td>Andrea, 2 girls aged 11 and 4 
</td>
 </tr>
 <tr>
 <td>Oh the place you'll go 
</td>
 <td>Dr Seuss 
</td>
 <td>3+ 
</td>
 <td>In my opinion, the best book for any parent to read to their child. It's all about life and how there are ups and downs and taking the right path. I could read it every single night and it usually brings a tear to my eye. And of course Dr Seuss books are all great. :) 
</td>
 <td>None 
</td>
 <td>If you haven't read Dr Seuss books, they are all full of interesting characters and rhyming, which the girls love and I think it keeps them more interested. This book was his last published before he died. 
</td>
 <td>5 
</td>
 <td>Suzanne - 2 girls: 
Sophie, 5 
Jessica, 4 
</td>
 </tr>
 <tr>
 <td><h1>Dinosaurs and All That Rubbish</h1>
</td>
 <td>Michael Foreman 
</td>
 <td>2-6? 
</td>
 <td>I had this when I was a kid and found a new edition of it which our girls LOVE. And me too for that matter. If you have to read a book 50 times, then it might as well be a good'un. Pictures are fab and the text is simple and memorable. 
</td>
 <td>Nope 
</td>
 <td>http://www.amazon.co.uk/Dinosaurs-That-Rubbish-Puffin-Books/dp/014055260X - A man sees a star and sets his sights upon it. In order to reach it he has to build a rocket and in doing so destroys his own environment with deforestation to provide fuel for factories, factories everywhere. The man reaches the faraway star but it is empty and devoid of life and beauty. All he can see is his own planet far away in the distance. Meanwhile on earth the heat of the smouldering rubbish awakens dinosaurs from their million year sleep, who emerge and are appalled at the state of the planet. They set about cleaning up - when the man returns he sees that the Earth is a beautiful place but can he have any of it back...? 
</td>
 <td>5 
</td>
 <td>Chris- 2 girls, 
Lila 2 and Maisa 4. 
</td>
 </tr>
 <tr>
 <td>Olga the Brolga 
</td>
 <td>Rod Clement 
</td>
 <td>3-7 
</td>
 <td>We love reading this, it is fun for the adults reading as well as the child listening, the illustrations are stunning and the story is engaging. It teaches children the value of being an individual, and that there are better ways of getting what you want rather than whinging. 
</td>
 <td>none 
</td>
 <td>This really brings to life tropical Australian wildlife in a fun way. It is also the lovely transformation of a cranky little brolga into a fun bird whom everyone wants to play with. I just love the illustrations they are so vibrant, and the rhyming is clever. I am a bit creeped out by all of the snakes, but my daughter loves them. 
</td>
 <td>5 
</td>
 <td>Claire: a girl 2, and boy 7 months. 
</td>
 </tr>
 <tr>
 <td>Don't Call Me Ishmael! 
<img src="http://www.dunedin.govt.nz/__data/assets/image/0003/107724/Dont-Call-Me-Ishmael.jpg" alt="Image - Don't call me Ishmael" title="Image - Don't call me Ishmael" /> 
</td>
 <td>Michael Gerard Bauer 
</td>
 <td>12+ 
</td>
 <td>This is a hilarious book about a boy in grade 9 in Brisbane. It talks about bullying, girls and fitting in and generally what life is like in grade 9. It is written in a humourous way that children and adults will love. 
</td>
 <td>You will be left wanting more!! 
</td>
 <td>Written by an Australian author and in a setting many will recognise or identify with. Set in Ashgrove, one of the inner suburbs of Brisbane, many Queensland children will have been there or know someone who has. There are several more excellent books from this brilliant Queensland author including The Running Man and Ishmael and the Dugongs. 
</td>
 <td>5 
</td>
 <td>Julienne 
3 boys 
1 girl 
Cian 17 
Shelby 15 
Reilly 10 
Cody 9 
</td>
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 <td>Wilfrid Gordon McDonald Partridge 
<img src="http://digitalorthodoxy.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/07/Wilfred.jpg" alt="" title="" style="height: 98px; width: 89px;" /> 
</td>
 <td>Mem Fox 
</td>
 <td>2 yrs up 
</td>
 <td>This book warms my heart and I love sharing such a kind story with my kids. 
The story is about a young boy, Wilfrid Gordon McDonald Partridge, who sets out to help old Miss Nancy Alison Delacourt Cooper find her memory. It explores what others think of as memories, and explores the different types of memories held by a young boy and an old woman. 
</td>
 <td>Can be a little long for very young children. 
At times the children don't understand some of the words, such as 'medals' or 'war'. 
</td>
 <td>Written by the Australian author, Mem Fox. She wrote this story after visiting her father (his name was Wilfrid Gordon McDonald Partridge) in an aged care facility. Mem Fox has written a number of very well known children's books, but this is my favourite. I love that her characters are real people and reader can related to their memories. 
</td>
 <td>5 
</td>
 <td>Sarah 
2 boys, 1 girl 
Thomas, 4 
Sophie, 2 
Henry, 1 
</td>
 </tr>
 <tr>
 <td> 
</td>
 <td>Karma Wilson 
</td>
 <td>4 months - 2 years 
</td>
 <td><img src="/i/anchor.gif" class="WikiAnchor" alt="Anchor" id="wikitext@@anchor@@htmldiff3" title="Anchor: htmldiff3"/>A story that is essentialy in rhyme (some with actions) that tell baby how much you love him/her. Finishes with a good night angle so great for bedtime reading. 
</td>
 <td><img src="/i/anchor.gif" class="WikiAnchor" alt="Anchor" id="wikitext@@anchor@@htmldiff4" title="Anchor: htmldiff4"/>Can be a tad too long for really little ones but you can always skip pages. Difficult to do some actions while holding baby so best to read lying together. 
</td>
 <td>What I like about this book is that my son has loved it since the first read and 15 months later he still does. His level of engagement has grown with age - the book's rhyme appeals to really young and as they grow older the actions become more important... to the point he pre-empts them now. This is also a great book for dads who aren't great readers/singers as the actions become the hero. Reinforcing love for your child can never be overdone and no matter how many times you read this book the child's engagement joy makes up for any killjoy book repetition can cause 
</td>
 <td>4 
</td>
 <td>Kylie, One boy 19 months 
</td>
 </tr>
 <tr>
 <td>Scarface Claw 
</td>
 <td>Lynley Dodd 
</td>
 <td>6 months and up 
</td>
 <td>Great rhyme...makes you want to read it over and over and over! 
 
It is so good you will know it off by heart and want to buy the other books in the series.. 
</td>
 <td> 
</td>
 <td>I find some of the bed time stories for babies are too boring. Love this one as it is short, very cheeky and allows you lots of opportunities to make funny faces and growling noises! Always a hit with someone grumpy before bed 
</td>
 <td>5 
</td>
 <td>Kirsty, One baby 8 months, Georgie 
</td>
 </tr>
 <tr>
 <td>Obernewton 
</td>
 <td>Isobelle Carmody 
</td>
 <td>12+ 
</td>
 <td>Great story set in a distant future where we have all but destroyed the Earth. Fantastical story easily weaves big issues including social injustices, prejudices, misuse of power, love, and friendship. 
</td>
 <td>Possibly not one that you will read to the kids. But they will read it for themselves. 
</td>
 <td>The first in a series of 5 so far, the sixth (and last) is yet to be released. I've read them all countless times, (first one when I was about 15). Introduced my partner (27) to them &amp; he loves them too. 
</td>
 <td>5 
</td>
 <td>Kelli 32. No kids :) 
</td>
 </tr>
 <tr>
 <td><img src="http://www.usborne.com/images/covers/eng/width_223px/thats-not-my-monster.jpg" alt="That's not my monster..." title="That's not my monster..." style="width: 1px;" /> 
</td>
 <td>Usborne touchy-feely books 
</td>
 <td>First book/ early readers 
</td>
 <td>Very engaging - one of the toughest board books we have - bright colours, large simple text - Gemma quickly learnt where to go to feel the textures on each page &amp; certainly has her favourite monsters! 
</td>
 <td>If you just read the book, it becomes extremely boring. Many opportunities to improvise etc. 
</td>
 <td>There seems to be a 'That's not my ...' for every conceivable 'thing' which we have joked at great length about! 
</td>
 <td>5 
</td>
 <td>Gemma, 6.5 months 
</td>
 </tr>
 <tr>
 <td>Hairy Maclary Series 
<img src="/file/view/hairy1.jpg/215682694/128x98/hairy1.jpg" alt="" title="" style="height: 98px; width: 128px;" /> 
</td>
 <td>Lynley Dodd 
</td>
 <td>1 year+ 
</td>
 <td>The rhyming and the adventures that Hairy Maclary and all his other dog friends go on. I love that it is fast paced, lots of pictures and quite a short book so good when attention spans are low! 
</td>
 <td>Written by a NZ author and poor NZ books don't seem to get a lot of exposure over here. 
</td>
 <td>She uses some big words like &quot;cacophony&quot; and &quot;boisterous&quot; in her books which may seem over the top for little kids but I find they don't even notice and my son now (prep) is asking what they mean so great for discussion and learning words that are not a part of most peoples everyday speech! 
</td>
 <td>5 
</td>
 <td>Kyley 
Son - Cohen (5) 
Daughter - Thea (2) 
</td>
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