Holiday Reading 2003

Fiction for Younger Readers

Ahlberg, Allan The cat who got carried away
A new story about the Gaskitt family.
Aiken, Joan Ghostly beasts
A collection of short animal tales.
Base, Graeme TruckDogs: a novel in four bites
Sparky longs to be part of the Mongrel Pack and do wheelies, jumps and skids with the cool young Truck Dogs. When villainous Mr Big and his RottWheelers roll into town on a thieving spree, Sparky convinces The Mongrel Pack that only they can save the town.
Brown, Jeff Stanley, flat again!
After Stanley Lambchop goes flat once again, he uses his flatness to help win a sailboat race and to rescue a classmate from a collapsed building.
Carmody, Isobelle Journey from the centre of the Earth
When Rafe begins to tell the story of a duck left at the centre of the earth by a human expedition, Harry is so caught up in imagining the duck's journey that it becomes his journey as well.
DiTerlizzi, Tony The field guide
It all starts when Jared Grace finds their great uncle's book, 'Arthur Spiderwick's Field Guide to the Fantastic World Around You' and the Grace kids realize that they are not alone in their new house. Now the kids want to tell their story but the faeries will do everything they can to stop them. First title in The Spiderwick Chronicles. Followed by The seeing stone.
Doherty, Berlie Blue John
Before being banished, the Queen of Darkness snatched up two things - the blue heart of the mountain and the gold of the sun, making a child of them, Blue John. One day, Blue John follows some children from the caves into the sunshine and is turned into stone.
Gaiman, Neil The wolves in the walls
Lucy tells her parents that wolves are living in the wall of their house. When the wolves decide to come out, Lucy and her family find themselves homeless. But not for too long because Lucy is determined to get their home back.
Hoffman, Mary Encore Grace
Grace finds that her family is changing and so is her group of friends. There's a new girl who puts Grace's nose out of joint; a production of Sleeping Beauty that aims to be very different; a school bully to contend with; goodbyes to be said to a friend who moves away.
McCaughrean, Geraldine Doctor Quack
Despite a magical medicine of fabulous price, Benedick's father died of the purple plague. Now Benedick travels from town to town selling cures and potions. His moatwater marvels seem doomed to end in disaster … until he meets a canny princess and someone he recognizes.
Matthews, Andrew Bob Robber and Dancing Jane
Bob Robber only came out at night and the night had got into him. He could stand so still that spiders didn't notice him and spun webs around him, but he envied Dancing Jane's light feet and happy dancing. Bob Robber cannot dance and so he tries to steal her shadow.
Mitchell, Pratima Petar's song
Petar loves music, and his violin keeps the whole village dancing. But when war breaks out, Petar, his mother and brother have to flee across the border to safety, leaving their beloved father in the village with the other men. Petar is so sad that he can no longer play his music.
O'Malley, Kevin Mount Olympus basketball
Zeus, Hera, Athene, Poseidon, and Hades pull some dirty tricks as they face off against Hercules, Jason, Odysseus, Achilles and Theseus in this 'gods versus mortals' basketball game set in ancient Greece.
Pilkey, Dav Captain Underpants and the big, bad battle of the Bionic Booger Boy: Night of the nasty nostril nuggets
A snotty situation ensues when Melvin Sneedley, an academically-gifted student, turns into the Bionic Booger Boy and must be stopped by George, Harold, and Captain Underpants. By flipping the pages, the reader can view animated illustrations. Also: Captain Underpants and the Big, Bad Battle of the Bionic Booger Boy: Revenge of the Ridiculous Robo-Boogers.
Radunsky, Vladimir Manneken Pis: a simple story of a boy who peed on a war
In a story based on a Belgian legend, a boy shows his dislike for a war by doing his business right on the battle, thus causing both sides to stop fighting, have a laugh, and make peace with one another.
Rumford, James Nine animals and the well
A fable about a group of animals which strives to bring the perfect present to the Indian raja-king's birthday party. Discusses how the numerals we use originated in India.
Woodson, Jacqueline Our Gracie Aunt
When a brother and sister are taken to stay with their mother's sister because their mother neglects them, they wonder if they will see their mother again. A sophisticated picture book.
Wynne-Jones, Tim Ned Mouse breaks away
Ned Mouse is trying to break out of jail after having committed the heinous crime of writing 'The government is unfair to mice!' in his spinach. Over the years Ned makes various unsuccessful attempts to escape until he finally comes up with his most daring escape plan yet.