Adele Broadbent's Blog, page 233

Alfie – Cat in Trouble

ER – WEL

Author – Rachel Wells

Age 6+

Alfie is a doorstep cat. He likes people and shares himself among three families. One has a new baby and they are tired and grumpy, so Alfie spends more time with a new family that has moved into the neighbourhood.

They are a strange bunch. Dad paints fruit and eggs paintings. Mum is always busy. The little girl is a prodigy, spending much of her time on her piano or with piano lessons, and the little boy is scolded often at his antics. He’s always getting into trouble and Alfie can see that he just wants some attention from his parents, thinking they love his sister more than him. Slowly but surely, with Alfie’s help, the family finds a solution.

Sweet. Young animal lovers will like this cute series.

(Animals, Cat, Friendship, Series)

When Michael Met Mina

ER – TEEN

Author – Randa Abdel-Fattah

Age – 12+

Michael is Aussie-born and bred and proud of his parents and their stand against ‘boat people’ invading Australia. His dad is trying to grow his organisation called Aussie Values, keen on ‘opening debate’ on how more and more refugees and asylum seekers are hitting their shores illegally.

Mina is from Afghanistan, after surviving a sea voyage from her home, her father murdered, her baby brother dying along the way. This past haunts her dreams, but she has grown up and studied hard in her new land. Her mum has remarried and Mina has received a scholarship to an expensive school. The same school Michael attends.

When Mina ends up in some of Michael’s classes, they don’t know each other’s past, but they soon get to know their present and they clash. But Mina has captured Michael’s interest like no girl before. Despite his parent’s beliefs he tries to get to know her and understand where she has come from. What he finds surprises and confuses him – are his parents right or wrong, and is it time to stop following blindly and make up his own mind about his future?

I loved the lively debate between the characters of this book. No one was definitely right or wrong – showing why it’s so hard to find solutions to this topical subject. Despite the tough subject, I found the main characters full of hope not hate. Told in both Michael and Mina’s point of view, it would be a great book to invite class discussion on both sides of this global problem. 

New Look & Features!

Hi there

Thanks for visiting What Book Next.com!

To those who have visited before, you will see some changes.

The Main Menu across the top of the page shows the separate Fiction sections by Age Group.

The Check Library Availability Tab in the Main Menu will take you straight to the Napier/Taradale Libraries Search Bar.

I am working on a Picture Book by Theme Drop Down box – also for the side bar. Watch this space!

There will be more changes and improvements but What Book Next.com is still able to be accessed just as normal – through the Search box.

What Book Next.com is for you, whether you be a reader, parent, librarian or teacher. So if you’d like an extra feature or specific information in my reviews, please leave any suggestions here…

Thanks so much

Adele Broadbent 

Children’s author, bookseller, reviewer, and complete book nut! 

 

 

Table Manners

(PB = picture book section)                  (L) = Which letter book can be found under)              

Title                                                                                         Author / Illustrator

How Martha saved her parents from Green Beans      PB (L) David LaRochelle / Mark Fearing

I do not eat the Colour Green                                             PB (R) Lynne Rickards / Margaret Chamberlain

Trains

(PB = picture book section)                  (A) = Which letter book can be found under)              

Title                                                              Author / Illustrator

Wave the Flag and Blow the Whistle    PB (A) Ronda Armitage / Andrew Gordon

Hero of the Hill                                            PB (C) Joy Cowley / Philip Webb

Superheroes

(PB = picture book section)                  (G) = Which letter book can be found under)              

Title                                                   Author / Illustrator

Zippo The Super Hippo                 PB (G) Kes Gray / Nikki Dyson

Superhero Dad                                 PB (K) Timothy Knapman / Joe Berger

Stutter

(PB = picture book section)                  (H) = Which letter book can be found under)              

Title                                    Author / Illustrator

Steggie’s Stammer          PB (H) Jack Hughes

Sports

(PB = picture book section)                  (J) = Which letter book can be found under)              

Title                                                           Author / Illustrator

Football Star                                              PB (J) Mina Javaherbin / Renato Alarcão

Dino Soccer                                                PB (W) Lisa Wheeler / Barry Gott

Howzat                                                        PB (L) Mike Lefroy / Liz Anelli

Kicking a Ball                                            PB (A) Allan Ahlberg / Sébastien Braun

Piri’s Big All Black Dream                     PB (B) Jared Bell / Jimmy Diaz

When I grow up I’m going to play for the All Blacks     PB (C) Gemma Carey / Tatio Viana /

Adrian Bijloo

Sorry

(PB = picture book section)                  (L) = Which letter book can be found under)              

Title                                                             Author / Illustrator

Sorry                                                              PB (L) Norbert Landa / Tim Warnes

Siblings

(PB = picture book section)                  (H) = Which letter book can be found under)              

Title                                                               Author / Illustrator

My Little Sister                                            PB (H) Joanna Harrison