Adele Broadbent's Blog, page 4

Tales of Curiosity

Entertaining tales told in a traditional fairytale style, with wisdom subtlety hidden amongst the words. There are narratives about Nature, Greed and Positivity woven around a changeling, a tree and a young weaver making extraordinary things.

In other stories, twins see the world in opposite ways, a selfish river wants revenge, and a puppet maker wants to rule a world he has made.

These are stories sprinkled with song and poems, portraying lives, loves and losses. There are stories within stories, capturing reader’s minds and imaginations, and opportunities for thought provoking discussions.

Tales of Curiosity is sumptuously produced in hardback, with full colour illustrations and quality paper – making this beautiful collection a superb gift.

Unique on New Zealand shelves, Tales of Curiosity is like the good old fashioned stories of old, but with a fresh voice and narrative style.

The author is offering young readers or listeners an opportunity to slow down and enjoy their surroundings, just as many of the characters do.

This book is really something special, and at varying lengths and topics, I enjoyed every story within.

Gorgeous.

 

Author – Sonya McArthur

Illustrator – Bevan Smith

Age – 8+

 

 

 

(2025, NZ, Aotearoa, New Zealand, Short Stories, Fairytales, Traditional Story Style, Storytelling, Story Collection, Fantasy, Magic, Journey, Love, Music, Poems, Poetry)

The post Tales of Curiosity appeared first on whatbooknext.com.

Hooked – Learning to Fish

Whether you’ve never tried or have had a go, you’ll be completely hooked by the time you’ve finished – Hooked – Learning to Fish.

From the author/chef of Go Fish and other culinary productions, Al Brown begins Hooked with how he began his own love of fishing.

Catching a fish (in any number of ways he describes in these pages) is always an exiting moment, no matter how old or experienced you are. Your heart is pumping, your muscles tense, and your imagination soaring as you wonder what’s tugging on your line.

With humour and years of fishing experience, Hooked is all about… Learning to Fish!

Sure, anyone can throw a line off a wharf, a riverbank or even the back of a boat – but Al Brown gives budding anglers a true insider view of this ancient worldwide pastime.

From the right lingo (fishing speak), gear, and even the right hat (this is funny), this book holds so many tips to increase your catch. Or indeed, just your photo opportunity before you release your fish back into the water.

There are 12 sections from ‘Sustainability’ (to make sure we can all keep fishing), ‘Knots & Nots’, ‘Safety’ and all types of fishing. Wharf Fishing, kayak or boat fishing (including boat speak), surfcasting or fly fishing sections all include the gear required and casting tips.

The final sections are just as important: ‘You’ve Caught a Fish! Now what?’ and then ‘Cooking up your Catch’ has 10 delicious fish recipes to complete the book. An index at the back helps you find the information you need quickly too.

Hooked – Learning to Fish is ideal for budding anglers. Illustrated in full colour with diagrams, guides and examples, I wish I had this book as I spent summer holidays sitting on a wharf, and many hours along river banks.

Tight Lines everyone!

 

Author – Al Brown

Illustrator – Hope McConnell

Publisher – Allen & Unwin

Non- Fiction

 

 

 

(2025, Allen & Unwin, NZ, Aotearoa, New Zealand, Fishing, Wharf, Boat, Kayak, Fly Fishing, Fishing Gear, How to Fish, Catching Fish, Fish Recipes, Catch and Release, Sustainability, Hooks, Lures, Lines, Reels, Sinkers, Outdoors, Rivers, Ocean, Sea, Surfcasting)

The post Hooked – Learning to Fish appeared first on whatbooknext.com.

The Edge of Light (2) The Miracle

Merel has escaped her island home of Littleton – the only home she’s ever known. Now a captive aboard a ship with Estelle, she wonders if she’s made a terrible mistake.

Before long, she encounters a sky without the covers that she’s lived under her whole life. The covers that were said to protect them from the sun’s brutal rays. What she experiences is nothing of the sort – just a beautiful blue, clear sky and ocean before her.

There is much more to learn about life away from Littleton, and to her horror, she learns the truth about her island and it’s people. She wishes she’d listened to those who’d begun asking questions. But she never imagined the true purpose of her home.

Living under the covers has given her and Estelle a pale, almost glowing skin, so they stand out among others. Named Darklanders, Merel wonders how they will ever escape the deck of the ship. But others have left the island too, and soon know she is coming.

Finding friendly faces is only temporary though, and Merel discovers an even bigger betrayal. A plan now burns in her – Return to Littleton and share the truth.

 

An exciting 2nd episode to The Edge of Light Trilogy. With a shocking reveal regarding the purpose of Littleton, and a betrayal that cuts deep, The Miracle is an emotive read.

The novel’s technology is intriguing and unnerving in equal measure, as we see the results of Capitalism in a possible future. 

Main character Merel is easy to cheer for, as her inner courage and determination stays strong – until a devastating loss stops her in her tracks. But this girl isn’t down for long, and the ending brings a promise of return and redemption in the final book – Fire.

 

Author – A M Dixon

Age – 12+

 

 

 

 

(2025, OneTree House, NZ, Aotearoa, New Zealand, Dystopian, Betrayal, Series, Future, Survival, Ship, Trek, Hiding, Truth, Lies, Technology, Genetics, Clones, Science, Cli-Fi, Post Apocalypse, Trilogy, Future Capitalism)

The post The Edge of Light (2) The Miracle appeared first on whatbooknext.com.

Leonardo’s Dragon – Five Far-Flung Dragon Tales

Dragons have been a part of imaginations both young and old for centuries. They have been in stories, myths, legends and songs throughout history.

In Leonardo’s Dragon, multi-award winning author & illustrator Donovan Bixley has recaptured the setting and time of Leonardo Da Vinci (as in his literary picture book, A Portrait of Leonardo), but this time has focussed it on the great man’s mystical pet.

The main character of this story collection is Caterina, a curious serving girl in the court of the Vatican in the early 1500’s. Fascinated by the lavishly robed noblemen and travellers who visit the palace, Caterina eavesdrops on their tales of glory and danger at any opportunity. Word of a dragon belonging to resident Leonardo Da Vinci, is especially exciting. She has never met or even seen the clever man, and is not sure what to believe. What she does know however, is that everyone fears the inventor’s creature.

The gossip stirs imaginations and stories are told – to Caterina in the kitchens and to gathered guests at banquets, where Caterina hides once again in the shadows to listen.

Tales hail from Italy, Japan, England and even the Pacific – retold by Donovan Bixley and lavishly illustrated throughout this large format story collection. These stories of dragons aren’t full of brave knights slaying dragons for glory and gold. These dragons are clever, wise, an ocean guide and even humorous.

The five stories shared become one, following Caterina’s journey in learning about these magical creatures and finally learning the truth about Leonardo’s Dragon.

Once again, in Donovan’s work, there are clever, subtle, thought-provoking moments about the world we live in today – stories being a form of entertainment through time, but also how stories can twist, cajole, and change the way we think about the world, without learning more about their origins.

While I read and consumed greedily each full colour illustration myself, I imagined these Five Far-Flung Dragon Tales being read out loud before bedtimes. Whilst based on Dragon Tales-of-Old, they are action-packed, retold and relevant to today’s modern listeners in order to keep them wanting more.

This 80 paged collection of tales tips the old traditions of slaying the evil dragons on their heads without losing the magic, wonder and deliciousness of an exciting dragon tale.

Loved it!

 

Author / Illustrator – Donovan Bixley

Age – 7+

Publisher – Upstart Press

 

Find more of Donovan Bixley’s Books here

 

 

 

(2025, Upstart Press, NZ, Aotearoa, Dragons, Short stories, Collection, Retellings, New Zealand, Historical, Fantasy, Action, Adventure, Courage, Mystery, Secret)

The post Leonardo’s Dragon – Five Far-Flung Dragon Tales appeared first on whatbooknext.com.

Violet and the Velvets (2) The Case of the Angry Ghost

Violet and the Velvets are competing at the School BandChamps. Excitement and nerves are all in the mix as the bands prepare for the play off that night. Each band works with the sound techs in the theatre to get their sound just right.

When unexpected sounds fill the theatre, fear follows. Blaming technical glitches, the adults brush off the creepy atmosphere that has enveloped them, and the wary young musicians continue to prepare.

Violet however, is having none of the adults excuses, and her band members, Mo, Lexie and Jack are right behind her. It seems they have another mystery to solve. They’ve heard the rumours of the Royal theatre’s own ghost. The bands aren’t professionals, but surely a ghost isn’t upset with their best efforts? Maybe it doesn’t want them in the theatre at all?

Violet and the Velvets are quickly on the case, but what they find isn’t fitting any of their past or present suspects. Is the young ballerina ghost real?

 

The second in this middle-grade music filled mystery series, The Case of the Angry Ghost has Violet and her band on the hunt for more clues and culprits.

The mystique of a ghost story, an intriguing theatre setting and the excitement and nerves of the competition, make an exhilarating read.

Mystery lovers will enjoy Violet’s determination in solving this eerie case – even if she is spooked a little herself. Teamwork and friendship not only bring answers to the enigma of the ghost, but solve other problems too – with satisfying results.

Violet talks directly to the reader at times, increasing the connection between them. She’s a likeable, convincing pre-teen, and the third book in the series continues their band’s journey.

(For any readers unsure about the content, it’s really not scary – just intriguing.)

 

Author – Rachael King

Illustrator – Phoebe Morris

Age – 7+

 

See the first book in the series here

 

 

(2025, Allen and Unwin NZ, Aotearoa, Music, Series, Friendship, Ghost, Mystery, New Zealand, ADHD, Neurodiverse, LGBTQIA, Clues, BandChamps, Competition, Punk, Ska, Rock, Humour, Funny, Non-Binary, Gender Diversity)

The post Violet and the Velvets (2) The Case of the Angry Ghost appeared first on whatbooknext.com.

Rākau – The Ancient Forests of Aotearoa

Another stunning production from Ned Barraud and Te Papa Press – Rākau – The Ancient Forests of Aotearoa is many things, all encompassed into this hardback non-fiction picture book.

Primarily, it is an introduction of Aotearoa’s Native Trees, showing distinctive barks, leaves, fruits, berries, etc of each tree. Rākau (tree) also delves into the ways Māori used each tree, whether it be for medicines, baskets or right up to mighty waka (Māori canoes).

Fold out pages (gate folds) conjure the magnificence of Tāne Mahuta – the grandest, oldest and tallest tree in New Zealand, and lush illustrations point out the complicated ecosystems that can live on and around the tree.

However, Rākau – The Ancient Forests of Aotearoa begins back in time, before any people arrived. Aotearoa was once draped from head to foot in giant rākau, standing “…shoulder to shoulder.” These ancient forests soon bowed to man’s clearing of land, first for food and kumara crops etc, to European colonists felling giant rākau for their homes, fences, bridges and to use the completely cleared land for farming.

Luckily there are still places in New Zealand far from any type of blade, where giant rākau still reign – proud and protected where they have lived for hundreds of years and longer.

Along with a step back in time, snapshots and information on New Zealand native trees, there are subtle warnings of what threats our mighty forests face, and a retelling of a Māori legend starring a tōtara tree.

But wait! There’s even more! At the rear of the book is a challenge – “Did you spot…?” taking readers back to the beginning, giving them a chance to pore over Ned Barraud’s sumptuous illustrations all over again.

A Glossary of Māori words and special terms about trees used within the book, are all included at the end.

 

A beautiful production for all ages and shelves across Aotearoa.

 

Author/Illustrator – Ned Barraud

Contributors – Leon Perrie & Isaac Te Awa

Non-Fiction – Picture Book

All ages

Publisher – Te Papa Press

 

See another book from Ned Barraud and Te Papa Press here

Find more books illustrated / written by Ned Barraud here

 

 

(2025, Te Papa Press, NZ, New Zealand, Aotearoa, Native Trees, Forests, Ecosystems, Environment, NZ History, Tane Mahuta, Search & Find Activity)

The post Rākau – The Ancient Forests of Aotearoa appeared first on whatbooknext.com.

Koro Wētā

Gumboots are perfect for splashing in puddles, keeping feet clean in mud, and walking in the rain. Gumboots are definitely for people’s feet, but one girl finds her favourite footwear occupied by another.

Inside her beloved boot is a large, cranky wētā. It is so large in fact, her mum said it must an old wētā – A Koro Wētā.

The gumboot owner doesn’t care how old the insect is. She just wants her gumboots back. Her mum picks it up and puts it in the garden where it might be happier. But this wētā has other ideas. When the gumboots are needed again the next day, the Koro Wētā is back! Dad comes to the rescue this time.

The girl has an idea to keep her gumboots wētā free, to no avail. It likes the quiet and dark at the bottom of the boot. Together the family work on a plan to help the Koro Wētā and get the gumboot back.

 

By the author of the best selling Granny McFlitter Picture Book series, Koro Wētā is another great kiwi read. Many of us have either experienced a wētā camping out in our footwear, or dreaded it (I’m the latter), so this story will resonate with many.

This bilingual (English/Māori) shares the discovery of one such visitor who is determined to stay. Each time the insect is discovered there are cries of horror in both English and te reo, which repeat throughout the story. These will be fun to sound out in a kindy or class group, or even reading at home.

But during these cries are a building understanding of the amazing wētā, and why it is hiding in the boot. Along the way any fear of the wētā is lost and a solution to both the wētā and character’s problems, found. 

I loved the simple use of technology during the story and the illustration depicting it.

The ending is a treat!

What’s so wonderful about wētā? – Find out at the back of the book with a whole page of fascinating facts about this creature, only found in New Zealand!

 

Author – Heather Haylock

Illustrator – Sarah Trolle

Publisher – Oratia Media

Picture Book

 

 

 

(2025, Oratia Media, NZ, New Zealand, Aotearoa, Native Insect, Gumboots, Habitat, Bilingual)

The post Koro Wētā appeared first on whatbooknext.com.

How Many Times? Me Hia Rawa Ngā Wā

A busy mum asks her children to help her and Koro in the kitchen, but they are engrossed on screens.

She asks them to pick up their things. Her pleas fall on deaf ears….

Little do they know that Mum’s words aren’t going anywhere. Every time she asks them a question, or requests their help, those words collect at her feet – on the walls, and even eventually hang from the ceiling!

It’s only when those words swamp the whole house that the children finally realise their mistake. Only they can put things to rights – but will the warning stay long enough for them to hear Mum the next time?

 

This bilingual (English/Māori) text is something we can all relate to in our homes and even our classrooms. Children are easily caught up in a game, a movie, or many other things they love to do. Helping around the house is last on the list for most.

I enjoyed the way Mum’s words weren’t completely ignored and lost. They were right there, with the piles growing day by day. Tim Tipene has brought life to these daily pleas from parents in a fun way that will capture young reader’s attention.

Making the children not only the reason for the problem, but the heroes of the story too, will hopefully help readers see their own homes in the tale.

Nicoletta Benella’s illustrations bring to life the spoken and then ignored words, at the family’s peril. I love the inclusion of martial arts moves in the fight back.

A book for every library – wherever it may be.

 

Author – Tim Tipene

Illustrator – Nicoletts Benella

Publisher – Oratia

Picture Book

 

 

 

(2025, Oratia Media, NZ, New Zealand, Aotearoa, Family, Cooperation, Responsibility, Helping around the house, Words, Pleads, Mum, Mother)

The post How Many Times? Me Hia Rawa Ngā Wā appeared first on whatbooknext.com.

The Dawn of Adonis

Toff never knew his mother. The only family he has is his uncle – Goliath Deeds. Goliath is feared and revered on London streets, and Toff feels the same. At only 12, Toff has seen and heard things no child should ever see, and has learnt never to cross his uncle.

One night Goliath and Toff meet a man in a bleak part of town. He has a deal for Goliath, who seems excited for the opportunity to make a lot of money. What Toff sees breaks his heart – a silverback gorilla, malnourished, sick and in terrible condition.

Goliath is delighted, but Toff is horrified. He knows he must get help for the creature and for the first time goes against his uncle’s orders and fetches help.

What follows is a battle between good and evil, animal love and cruelty, money and dignity. Toff meets Nettie, an avid animal lover and daughter of a vet. She not only stands up to Goliath, but inexplicably stands in his way of exploiting any animal.

Toff is mortified and impressed in equal measure, and the next 24 hours are the most fearful hours he’s ever experienced in his life. Goliath has eyes and spies everywhere on the streets of London, and a death defying chase results through the alleys and tunnels across the city.

 

The Dawn of Adonis is a prequel to the best selling When The Sky Falls. This episode shows readers Adonis’s beginnings in London and how his very life was saved by a brave young girl and a street urchin.

Phil Earle is a master storyteller, and The Dawn of Adonis captured me from the first page and had me turning pages faster and faster until the nail biting ending. Just as in his other books, the setting is richly portrayed and the 1911 London docks easy to immerse yourself in.

Poverty is rife in the story, but so is positivity and kindness, with strong friendships built along the way.

This is a novel for animal lovers, historical genre readers, and anyone who loves a thrilling story.

 

Author – Phil Earle

Age – 10+

 

 

 

 

(2025, Andersen Press, Animals, Action, Historical, Grief, Friendship, Poverty, Secret, Family, Courage, Gorilla, Baby, London, Thugs, Violence, Escape, Gangsters, Duology, Series, Prequel, Gripping)

The post The Dawn of Adonis appeared first on whatbooknext.com.

The Mushroom in the Sky

Life is different for Kat, now that she’s living with her aunt and uncle. She’s tried fitting in at her new school but hasn’t found any firm friends yet. But life is different for everyone, since the war began.

Worries of Japanese forces invading Australia encourage even more young men to sign up to fight, and one such young man is Ossie.

Ossie only has one member of family, and that is Lucky – his strange looking, one-eyed companion that he hates to leave behind. Ossie had heard of a lady called Mrs Plum, who takes in servicemen’s dogs until they return from war.

But Mrs Plum already has over 40 dogs – and she can hardly feed them, let alone another. Kat steps in to foster Lucky, and soon her life changes again.

Kat and Lucky build a close bond, while Kat helps Mrs Plum with the other dogs in all of her spare time.

The war rages on as rations get tighter and letters and postcards travel between Kat and Ossie. They too develop a friendship, and through Lucky, something more.

The first time it happened, Kat isn’t sure what to believe. When it happens to Ossie, he is just as surprised. Neither tell anyone that they seem to be able to reach across the miles and ‘see’ each other and their surroundings.

One such ‘visit’ is the sight of a bright light and a mushroom cloud which engulfs the sky, and scares Kat. She’s frightened for Ossie’s safety when she learns what it was.

Will Ossie return for Lucky? Did he survive the bomb so powerful, it turned cities to dust?

 

Another thought provoking historical novel for older tweens and young teens, from an author who is an expert in this genre.

Again and again, Jackie French has brilliantly portrayed a time in history for children and teens, this time showing a young Australian soldier (Ossie), and then his time as a POW (prisoner of war) in a Japanese camp.

The other point of view in this excellent novel is from Kat, a young teenage girl who met Ossie in small town Australia, just before he signed up. Their link through Ossie’s dog will entertain animal lovers too.

Hiroshima and Nagasaki were a shock to the world, but there is more to it than most know and along with the author afterword, The Mushroom in the Sky is an engaging novel.

Jackie French historical novels always seem effortlessly written, but much research is undertaken beforehand and whilst writing – the author herself admitting she is a stickler for the facts (as much as possible to keep the story flowing).

As always with Jackie’s novels – I loved it.

 

Author – Jackie French

Age – 11+

 

Want to see more Jackie French novels? See here.

 

 

 

(2025, War, WWII, World War 2, Atomic bombs, Nuclear, Japan, Honour, Surrender, Hiroshima, Nagasaki, Dogs, Love, Connection, Letters, POW, Prisoner of War, Australian soldiers, Historical)

The post The Mushroom in the Sky appeared first on whatbooknext.com.