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Lizards Leap
Imagine four youngsters...no, a bit older. Yes, that's about right. Vicki is fourteen, the eldest, and a bit mad. They're bored; nothing much happens in their town. You know what it's like, wanting something to happen, but not knowing what you want it to be. So, nothing did happen...until Kerry buys an old picture frame. She's into lizards...All will become clear. They find, much to their shock, that if they put a picture in the frame it becomes a gateway to that new place and they can somehow leap into the picture and take part in what's going on within it. Emma's the sarcastic one; she's funny, though. She's the first to learn about the consequences. She almost kills her cousin. In this first book, they leap into all kinds of pictures, get into all sorts of trouble, and are chased by a sinister old woman who wants the frame and can, at will, travel anywhere to get it. They find a wolf called Lupus-not really a pet, but they like him. The thing that you have to understand, is that when you invite adventure into your...
212 pages, Paperback
Published February 20, 2009
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Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews
December 19, 2022
Lizards Leap, by Katherine Black.
A delightful adventure story full of magic, mystery, and humour.
Kerry is twelve years old and is enjoying the church fair with her sister Emma and cousins Vicky and Mark. Kerry spies an old picture frame lying among the jumble of items on sale at one of the white elephant stalls. The four children pool their remaining pocket money so she can buy the frame. Inside was a picture of the Statue of Liberty, this was ignored by Kerry whose only interest was the intricately carved wooden frame depicting flowers, vines and sand lizards, all in perfect detail and scale.
Sylvia is an eccentric elderly woman with grey hair, wrinkled skin, and an unusual fashion sense. She had been watching the children and plots a way to get her property back.
Kerry finds a small roll of paper hidden within the frame. She unwinds the paper to discover a strange rhyme written on it. Together the children recite the verse and are immediately transported to the location depicted in the picture inside the frame. A series of adventures unfold with each new picture, but then not everything is nice.
I enjoyed the entire story and chuckled my way through most of the chapters. I especially loved the theatre escapade and couldn’t stop laughing. While other chapters had me quietly wondering what was about to happen.
Beautifully written, told with great imagination and a whole lot of fun.
Highly recommended.
A delightful adventure story full of magic, mystery, and humour.
Kerry is twelve years old and is enjoying the church fair with her sister Emma and cousins Vicky and Mark. Kerry spies an old picture frame lying among the jumble of items on sale at one of the white elephant stalls. The four children pool their remaining pocket money so she can buy the frame. Inside was a picture of the Statue of Liberty, this was ignored by Kerry whose only interest was the intricately carved wooden frame depicting flowers, vines and sand lizards, all in perfect detail and scale.
Sylvia is an eccentric elderly woman with grey hair, wrinkled skin, and an unusual fashion sense. She had been watching the children and plots a way to get her property back.
Kerry finds a small roll of paper hidden within the frame. She unwinds the paper to discover a strange rhyme written on it. Together the children recite the verse and are immediately transported to the location depicted in the picture inside the frame. A series of adventures unfold with each new picture, but then not everything is nice.
I enjoyed the entire story and chuckled my way through most of the chapters. I especially loved the theatre escapade and couldn’t stop laughing. While other chapters had me quietly wondering what was about to happen.
Beautifully written, told with great imagination and a whole lot of fun.
Highly recommended.
March 10, 2023
An unusual genre for me to read but I found this book to be a magical adventure filled with mystery and fun. A young girl, Kerry, buys an unusual-looking old picture frame that is decorated with wooden lizards, from a white elephant stall and inside she finds a small piece of paper with a strange rhyme written on it. Together with her sister, Emma, and cousins, Vikki and Mark, she recites the verse and the children find themselves transported to the location depicted inside the frame. A series of adventures unfold with some full of danger and tensions mount. This is a well-written children’s fantasy fiction and I strongly recommend it.
August 13, 2025
Katherine Black - Lizards Leap.
Sooz Simpson
Review - 5⭐
I have loved every word of this story, the theatre chapter had me laughing so hard. I literally had tears rolling down my face. What an amazing adventure it took me back to my childhood and my love of the old classics like Kidnapped, 20,000 leagues under the sea. Thank you so much for writing this story, it's so lovely to be 12 again. Cheering at the good guys and booing at the bad guys. I've already recommended it to three friends already, just a little hooray story. We all need a story like this one. Katherine Black you are a genius.
Sooz Simpson
Review - 5⭐
I have loved every word of this story, the theatre chapter had me laughing so hard. I literally had tears rolling down my face. What an amazing adventure it took me back to my childhood and my love of the old classics like Kidnapped, 20,000 leagues under the sea. Thank you so much for writing this story, it's so lovely to be 12 again. Cheering at the good guys and booing at the bad guys. I've already recommended it to three friends already, just a little hooray story. We all need a story like this one. Katherine Black you are a genius.
March 7, 2025
I’ve been a Katherine Black fan since her Silas Nash series, but Lizard's Leap caught me off guard. How can the same author who crafts such bone-chilling psychological suspense novels pivot so brilliantly to middle-grade portal fantasy? Talk about range!
Black channels Through the Looking Glass magic in this tale of Kerry, Emma, Vicky, and Mark -cousins who discover an ornate picture frame at a local fair.
The intricate carvings, the hidden rhyme, each foray through the frame left me breathless, wondering what dangerous new world awaited them.
I laughed out loud at the repartee between the cousins. The mysterious Sylvia had me theorizing. Who was she? Why did she want the frame so desperately? Black drops just enough breadcrumbs to keep you guessing without revealing too much too soon.
Lizard’s Leap is not just for children but anyone who loves the magic of discovering new worlds through books. This modern classic deserves every one of its five stars.
Black channels Through the Looking Glass magic in this tale of Kerry, Emma, Vicky, and Mark -cousins who discover an ornate picture frame at a local fair.
The intricate carvings, the hidden rhyme, each foray through the frame left me breathless, wondering what dangerous new world awaited them.
I laughed out loud at the repartee between the cousins. The mysterious Sylvia had me theorizing. Who was she? Why did she want the frame so desperately? Black drops just enough breadcrumbs to keep you guessing without revealing too much too soon.
Lizard’s Leap is not just for children but anyone who loves the magic of discovering new worlds through books. This modern classic deserves every one of its five stars.
May 3, 2025
Thoroughly enjoyed this book! It's a really fresh take on portal fantasy and is jam packed with fun and quirky adventures, exactly like those I'd like to take myself. I was captivated from start to finish.
The banter between the four main characters was hilarious and very realistic. It had me laughing out loud at points. Each character is very distinct and every single one is memorable. Sylvia quickly became a favourite of mine too, though I've always had a soft spot for gargoyles, so OG and CG are up there too.
The frame the cousins find acts as a portal and the situations they find themselves in are fun and thoroughly enjoyable. I never knew quite what to expect next. Lupus and King Luke were my particular favourites.
Cannot wait to read the next one!
The banter between the four main characters was hilarious and very realistic. It had me laughing out loud at points. Each character is very distinct and every single one is memorable. Sylvia quickly became a favourite of mine too, though I've always had a soft spot for gargoyles, so OG and CG are up there too.
The frame the cousins find acts as a portal and the situations they find themselves in are fun and thoroughly enjoyable. I never knew quite what to expect next. Lupus and King Luke were my particular favourites.
Cannot wait to read the next one!
January 7, 2025
Exciting Adventure For All The Family!
This was an absolutely fabulous, exciting adventure for children and adults alike. Four cousins find themselves in possession of a magic frame that can transport them into any picture hung inside it. But there are rules and responsibilities to owning such power. We follow the four children through their picture adventures, and mysterious Sylvia teaches them (and us) the rules of the frame.
The silly nature of some of the chapters will really appeal to this books target audience, but even if you’re not a tween yourself, you might still appreciate the fun in this lighthearted read.
This was an absolutely fabulous, exciting adventure for children and adults alike. Four cousins find themselves in possession of a magic frame that can transport them into any picture hung inside it. But there are rules and responsibilities to owning such power. We follow the four children through their picture adventures, and mysterious Sylvia teaches them (and us) the rules of the frame.
The silly nature of some of the chapters will really appeal to this books target audience, but even if you’re not a tween yourself, you might still appreciate the fun in this lighthearted read.
June 13, 2024
I enjoyed this story, which is really for children, I think. Kerry falls in love with a carved picture frame and is determined to bring it home from the church sale. She and her cousins never imagined the frame was magic. They had some learning to do. The ways the children made their discoveries are entertaining and I liked the colourful character of Sylvia. A good introduction to the adventures Kerry, Mark, Emma and Vickie will have with the magic frame, because I believe there’s another book after this one.
October 10, 2024
Loved this!
I read this with my son and he adored it! We found the banter between the children amusing, and we loved the excitement of their adventures through the frame. Black kept us entertained, and the pages kept turning. Silvia is a wonderful character, and my sons favourite. We especially enjoyed the adventure in Kaleidoscope castle. What a wonderful story, and a great imagination. We'll be delving into book 2 for sure. Thank you for igniting my sons intrigue in a different genre of book. ☺️
I read this with my son and he adored it! We found the banter between the children amusing, and we loved the excitement of their adventures through the frame. Black kept us entertained, and the pages kept turning. Silvia is a wonderful character, and my sons favourite. We especially enjoyed the adventure in Kaleidoscope castle. What a wonderful story, and a great imagination. We'll be delving into book 2 for sure. Thank you for igniting my sons intrigue in a different genre of book. ☺️
April 13, 2025
Excellent read
Kerry finds an unique carved frame at a local fair which brings her and her cousins into worlds that they never imagined existed. This includes magical, ancient, danger, and dark forces. They don't know what they are going to encounter in each world and find it fascinating, but some become dangerous and they have to survive. The world's are different levels. There is a lot of challenges and danger even wicked enemies hiding in secret that they don't expect. This is an exciting book that will capture children's hearts and sounds like a game or movie.
Kerry finds an unique carved frame at a local fair which brings her and her cousins into worlds that they never imagined existed. This includes magical, ancient, danger, and dark forces. They don't know what they are going to encounter in each world and find it fascinating, but some become dangerous and they have to survive. The world's are different levels. There is a lot of challenges and danger even wicked enemies hiding in secret that they don't expect. This is an exciting book that will capture children's hearts and sounds like a game or movie.
November 17, 2025
A delightful young adult fantasy but also a good read for adults. This author weaves a magical story that in many ways reminded me of Alice in Wonderland's strange and colorful characters. Four young people with unique personalities set out on an adventure thanks to a magical frame that carries them to other times and places. My favorite character was Sylvia, the woman from Whence, but I've got say the gargoyles also drew me in. I don't do spoilers but if you love books full of imagination, and at times fast-paced action you'll love this book. Highly recommended for school libraries as well.
October 24, 2022
When Kerry sees an old frame housing an awful picture of the Statue of Liberty on sale at a fair, she is determined to have it, not the picture but the frame. That’s when she meets Sylvia, and just what Sylvia is Kerry and her cousins can’t quite decide. So begins a series of adventures taking them not only across the world but time as well. This was an enjoyable read from beginning to end. It’s magical in the sense that anything is possible and the kids can go anywhere once they discover the secret of doing so. Yet it’s not all that safe, because danger still lurks. By far my favourite part was King Luke, closely followed by discovering who is Sylvia. Having written that I also liked their visit to the theatre! The banter between the four children is entertaining, each has their own separate character and foibles which are exploited by the others in humours ways. It is an easy and fun book to read, made up of many splendid moments, and one that I would recommend with its cross between Alice in Wonderland and Narnia.
February 21, 2022
Another excellent story from Katherine Black, this time a magical mystery for early teen and young adult readers upwards—this sixty-something loved it.
When twelve-year-old Kerry falls in love with an intricately-fashioned picture frame, complete with carved lizards, at a church hall sale, she sets in motion a series of adventures for herself and her sister Emma as well as cousins Vicki and Mark. Not only does a strange and eccentric old woman try to claim the frame as her property, but the strange rhyme which Kerry finds within the frame transports the foursome, when they recite it out loud, to the location shown in the picture contained within the frame: the first of many adventures upon which the four embark.
There’s fun and games as well as risk and danger while the young people discover not merely the magic of the frame but the penalties for misuse of the same. Highly recommended.
When twelve-year-old Kerry falls in love with an intricately-fashioned picture frame, complete with carved lizards, at a church hall sale, she sets in motion a series of adventures for herself and her sister Emma as well as cousins Vicki and Mark. Not only does a strange and eccentric old woman try to claim the frame as her property, but the strange rhyme which Kerry finds within the frame transports the foursome, when they recite it out loud, to the location shown in the picture contained within the frame: the first of many adventures upon which the four embark.
There’s fun and games as well as risk and danger while the young people discover not merely the magic of the frame but the penalties for misuse of the same. Highly recommended.
October 29, 2022
When 12 year old Kerry buys a old quirky looking picture frame that is decorated by wooden lizards that is just the start of an amazing adventure for her, her sister Emma and cousins Vikki and Mark. A scary old lady asking for it back just make the kids want it more. They soon discover from Sylvia, the scary old lady who is anything but, that the frame is magic and whatever picture is inside the frame they are transported into it. It’s all fun and games until they discover that if they make a mistake a little bit of the frame dies. When they get stuck in a Castle they find they can’t leave until they have rescued the people by solving a series of puzzles. This is a great childrens fantasy and is definitely a change of pace from the other Katherine Black books I’ve read. Mark and Emma were my favourite characters as they were so funny. The pace was fast and I found I read half of it in one sitting. I definitely recommend.
August 17, 2023
When 12 year old Kerry buys a old quirky looking picture frame that is decorated by wooden lizards that is just the start of an amazing adventure for her, her sister Emma and cousins Vikki and Mark. A scary old lady asking for it back just make the kids want it more. They soon discover from Sylvia, the scary old lady who is anything but, that the frame is magic and whatever picture is inside the frame they are transported into it. It’s all fun and games until they discover that if they make a mistake a little bit of the frame dies. When they get stuck in a Castle they find they can’t leave until they have rescued the people by solving a series of puzzles. This is a great childrens fantasy and is definitely a change of pace from the other Katherine Black books I’ve read. Mark and Emma were my favourite characters as they were so funny. The pace was fast and I found I read half of it in one sitting. I definitely recommend.
November 5, 2025
Lizards Leap is a fantastic fantasy adventure. When
4 cousins buy an old picture frame at a church fair little do they know that they’re now in possession
of a magical portal to new worlds. That is until they find a hidden scroll which when read transports
them to whatever place is pictured on the photo within the frame. And thus starts an exciting series
of adventures. The theatre scene was a particular high point for me and I found myself laughing out loud on a number of occasions.
This book had everything you could want from a book in this genre: Adventure, great characters, friendship, action, comedy and more. Whilst aimed at the middle-grade age range, this can actually be enjoyed by everyone.
Favourite Quote:
‘Pardon?’ Shouted Kerry, to the delight of the audience. ‘Speak up. I can’t hear you.’
‘Father, I wish you long life and lots of luck,’ repeated the prompter, a little louder.
‘Oh, okay. Father I wish you not limp like a duck.’
4 cousins buy an old picture frame at a church fair little do they know that they’re now in possession
of a magical portal to new worlds. That is until they find a hidden scroll which when read transports
them to whatever place is pictured on the photo within the frame. And thus starts an exciting series
of adventures. The theatre scene was a particular high point for me and I found myself laughing out loud on a number of occasions.
This book had everything you could want from a book in this genre: Adventure, great characters, friendship, action, comedy and more. Whilst aimed at the middle-grade age range, this can actually be enjoyed by everyone.
Favourite Quote:
‘Pardon?’ Shouted Kerry, to the delight of the audience. ‘Speak up. I can’t hear you.’
‘Father, I wish you long life and lots of luck,’ repeated the prompter, a little louder.
‘Oh, okay. Father I wish you not limp like a duck.’
June 5, 2023
Lizards Leap is in the grand tradition of 'Group of children have magical adventures' - in this case, three girls and a boy discover a picture frame that can take them wherever and whenever they choose. Cue a string of varied, exciting, and frequently hilarious capers, from rescuing a wolf, to inadvertently starring in a musical, to solving puzzles in a surreal and topsy-turvy castle.
The children are all strong characters, and their dialogue is snappy. I felt the episodic nature of this book worked well, until the 'villain' is rather shoehorned into the final piece, and the ending consequently feels a little rushed. All in all, though, a successful and entertaining Middle Grade adventure with a wild imagination and a generous heart.
The children are all strong characters, and their dialogue is snappy. I felt the episodic nature of this book worked well, until the 'villain' is rather shoehorned into the final piece, and the ending consequently feels a little rushed. All in all, though, a successful and entertaining Middle Grade adventure with a wild imagination and a generous heart.
November 20, 2022
A great fantasy read!
Four young teenagers, Kerry, Emma, Mark and Vicky, a mysterious photo frame and a strange old lady. Get ready for a magical adventure filled with excitement, mystery and fun.
Lizards Leap is an amazing adventure story that takes you on many journeys around the world and across time.
The story is well written with lots of description, which really does set the scene. There are many laugh out loud moments with the continuous banter from the children.
A great children’s fantasy fiction story. Highly recommended!
Four young teenagers, Kerry, Emma, Mark and Vicky, a mysterious photo frame and a strange old lady. Get ready for a magical adventure filled with excitement, mystery and fun.
Lizards Leap is an amazing adventure story that takes you on many journeys around the world and across time.
The story is well written with lots of description, which really does set the scene. There are many laugh out loud moments with the continuous banter from the children.
A great children’s fantasy fiction story. Highly recommended!
April 7, 2024
An enjoyable portal fantasy for young readers
This would be a great introduction to portal fantasy for young readers.
With homages to classics like Alice in Wonderland and Narnia, this is the start of what could be a classic children's fantasy series. Definitely reccomended!
This would be a great introduction to portal fantasy for young readers.
With homages to classics like Alice in Wonderland and Narnia, this is the start of what could be a classic children's fantasy series. Definitely reccomended!
Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews