Saturday, February 11, 2012
Bear’s Very Snowy Day by Victoria Ball (€7.10 HB) is a glittery rhyming tale of Bear’s adventure in the snow.
As he meets with his cuddly friends, they all cavort and have fun. The story ends with a happy pop-up. Perfect to share with toddlers.
Smelly Peter, The Great Pea Eater by Steve Smallman (Little Tiger; €9.50 with CD) tells of a small boy who dines solely on peas. Bad enough that he gasses his parents and classmates with windy emissions, but when he turns green he’s abducted by green aliens who take him to their planet. “And the funny thing was, they loved him because he was green and incredibly farty!” They elect him as their king, but when he goes off peas and turns pink, he’s dumped back to earth and changes his diet. The surprise ending will make five-to seven-year-olds laugh out loud.
The Shadow Cage by Philippa Pearce (Jane Nissan Books; €9.50) is a collection of short stories to dip into. Although classed as supernatural tales, they are far from the screaming horrors and doom associated with such stories. The author skilfully blends credible characters into enigmatic tales that gently draw the reader into wondering whether something strange has really happened. What is the secret of a small, dirty bottle in the title story The Shadow Cage? Has a mystic being in The River-Gates helped the miller close the sluice in a raging storm? Suitable for age 10 and up.
Dark Water by Cindy Jefferies (A&C Black; €7.10) cleverly infuses the hurtful aspects of bullying into her story. Sarah and her partner Abbey are talented synchronised swimmers, hopeful of qualifying for the London Olympics. Shyness prevents Sarah from mentioning her swimming feats at school, but when an upstart discovers her secret she makes Sarah squirm. However there is someone special whose advice helps Sarah towards self-esteem and openness. Aimed at reluctant readers aged 13 upwards.
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