Thursday Book Club

Lizzie reviewed two books she bought at the Warehouse. “Fascinating facts and curious questions” and “It’s not true”. Lizzie says “They both have really interesting facts about animals, common myths, crazy names and phrases, strange laws and all sorts of other facts. They are great books –perfect for people who have a thirst for knowledge and love of learning”. Lizzie read us one of the amazing questions in the book - “Why can’t a horse vomit?” and the answer ( a muscle in the horse’s throat prevents this happening). Another interesting fact was “Why are frankfurter sausages called ‘hot dogs’? The explanation involved the German inventor of the sausage and a Daschund dog!! “It’s not true” is more about myths.

Elizabeth told us that this book carries on from Book 5. Amy and Dan Cahill go to Egypt, go through a maze and get caught in a boat while seeking the clue. They are now ahead of other groups also looking for the clues. Irena Spasky is Elizabeth's favourite character because although she is a nasty person, she is a spy and very mischievous. Elizabeth also recommends "Blood, Bones and Body Bits" and "The Horrible Science of Everything". Both of these are science books written in a way that you can learn and have fun at the same time.

Amy told us this book is about Mandy Hope. A lady she knows owns a farm but has to go away. All the farm animals are found new homes except the wombat. Mandy helps train the wombat so it can live in the wild. Mandy is Amy's favourite character. Amy recommends this book and others in the Animal Ark series for readers 8-12 years old. Amy also recommends the Sleepover Club series about a group of girls who have adventures together for girls 9-12 years old

Amy just finished this title last night. This is about a person who found three lion cubs in need of rescue. The two bigger cubs were taken to the zoo, but the youngest, Elsa, was kept and raised by the family. Eventually they wanted to release her to the wild - but were worried she could not learn how to be a free lion. It is an adults book that has been made into a movie, but it is also very suitable for kids. It

Cam and Eric’s teacher gets taken away by police because someone stole her car and it was crashed into a tree. This book has a mystery game in it. Cam is this club member's favourite character and she reads a lot of Cam Jansen mysteries

In this collection, Roger McGough sets out to tickle your ribs with some of his favourite funny stories. You'll find Aries apes and hairy spiders, pongy goats and lippy dogs, outrageous aunts and teenage angst.Our club member told us that there was one story “Woof” by Alan Ahlberg about a boy being turned into a dog. Our club member said “ a word of warning –don’t be put off by that!”

Jessica read “Daisy and the Trouble with Christmas” Mrs Peters’s class is putting on a play for Christmas. Daisy and her friend think Mrs Peters has chosen the wrong doll to play the part of baby Jesus. They decide to make the doll walk and talk by adding batteries to it, but their plan goes wrong and Daisy’s mum gets mad!

The third gripping adventure in this exciting new pony-club series. With gymkhanas to win, rivals to defeat, mysteries to solve and ponies in danger to save. Our club member told us about this book -Issie and Blaze, her horse, go to Issie’s aunt’s farm while her mother is away at a conference. Blaze is spooked by something crashing through the undergrowth at the farm. Issie’s aunt tells her that people believe that when a wildlife park closed down years ago, a black cat escaped and was never found. People called it the Grimalkin. This is a very exciting book because the Grimalkin stalks the riders and danger is always there.

Jessica enjoyed this book. It stars a girl called catie whose teacher, Mrs Derkman, moves next door. Katie has a dog called Pepper that Mrs Derkman doesn't like. Trouble turns up when Katie turns into Pepper and gets the blame for digging up Mrs Derkman's garden.

Tess really enjoyed this book and thought it would be suitable for girls 8 years and over. Two children, Beatrice and Daniel go to Doctor Earnest Drake's school for Dragonology. They come top of their classes. They want Dr Drake to become the next Dragonmaster. Our library doesn't have this book but we do have Drake's Comprehensive Compendium of Dragonology.

Tess really enjoyed “Dragon Eye” by Dugal A Steer. She thought it would be suitable for girls 8 years and over. Two children, Beatrice and Daniel go to Doctor Earnest Drake's school for Dragonology. They come top of their classes. They want Dr Drake to become the next Dragonmaster. Our library doesn't have this book but we do have Drake's Comprehensive Compendium of Dragonology.

Tess got “Friends, Fallouts and Big Secrets” for her birthday. It is one of the “Best Friends Club” series about five girls who are friends. Each chapter in the book is a part of the diary of one of the girls. Tess’s favourite character is Angel (because she likes animals) and Aleisha. Tess’s mum thinks Aleisha is like Tess. We could not find any author name on the book!

Amy has just started reading the seventh Harry Potter –Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows. She is up to where Bill and Fleur get married. Her favourite character is Harry but she likes Hermione because she is very smart.

Amy is reading “Harry Potter and the order of the Phoenix”. Harry, Ron and Hermione are in the house of Sirius Black. When they return to Hogwarts they find a new professor, Professor Umbridge is trying to change things. Amy likes Hermione because she is a girl and is very hard working. She likes Harry because he is brave and outrageous and is a good fighter

Tess read this story about a girl called Jade who moves from Auckland to Flaxton to live with her granddad. She falls in love with a horse at the pound - and steals it! She is found out, but is allowed to keep the horse, who she calls Pip. Jade does very well on Pip, but one day at an event a lady recognises her as her horse Onyx, and asks for her back - Jade is upset, but eventually is able to buy Pip back. Tess enjoyed this story about Jade's challenges as a learning rider because she herself is learning how to ride horses.

Three years ago, Miley Cyrus was a virtual unknown. Her life in rural Tennessee was filled with family, friends, school, cheerleading, and the daily tasks of living on a farm. And then came a little show called "Hannah Montana."Lizzy is reading a book about Miley Cyrus, called “Miles to Go”. This is the second time she has read it but is enjoying the book again. Lizzie has been to see the film “Hannah Montana” with her mother in the gold class theatre.

Tess was very enthusiastic about the “Mrs Piggle-Wiggle” book she is reading. In “Mrs Piggle-Wiggle’s Farm”, Mrs Piggle-Wiggle moves to a farm from her upside down house. She cures children of their faults by using the farm animals. Penelope the parrot is a talking parrot. When children are rude or selfish, Penelope talks back to them so they know what they sound like! A pig shows them what people with bad manners look like! This helps the children improve. Tess’s favourite part of the book was when a Tell-tale child was cured.

Tess enjoyed this story about a girl who had a horse called Twilight. She read a book about how a horse could turn into a unicorn and then she began to wonder whether her horse could become a secret unicorn.

. Krista loves all ponies, but there's something special about Shining Star. He can fly. One night, Krista senses Shining Star is in trouble, so she must call in Star's brother and sister, North Star and Pale Moon - but how can she find them? Tess really enjoyed this book especially as she rides horses herself.

Olivia visits a tunnel which has been abandoned and meets some unusual people. Olivia has the ability to see ghosts which makes her life very interesting. Poppy enjoys reading about the things Olivia Kidney does.

Jessica enjoyed the Puzzle for the Secret Seven. The Seven go to a fair. The owners of a stall have their house burnt down so the Secret Seven let them live in a caravan which had belonged to Old Mac. A precious violin was stolen and the Secret Seven wanted to find out who had stolen it.

Jessica enjoyed Rugby for Rosie by Frances Adlam. Rosie wants to play rugby but none of the other girls in the school do. Rosie sends a letter to Mandy Megawoman who visits the school and tells the girls they should try it out. Mandy Megawoman cuts Rosie’s hair short so she can join the team.

Jessica also read “Scruffy Old Cat” is about a girl called Lily who wants a pet. When she is given a scruffy old cat called Sardine she thinks everyone will laugh at her, but her friends like Sardine because she makes them laugh.

Tess wrote this review - My book is called Seahorses. Seahorses is a series of books about a young girl called Tamzin and her 2 best friends Joel and Hannah. Tamzin is staying with her nan in Cornwall for a year while her parents are in Canada. But there is a legend in Cornwall that her nan's ancestors captured an evil grey spirit known as the grey horse, who brought rough storms to the valley and sinks fishermen's ships. The grey horse's enemy is the blue horse who is trying to protect Tamzin from the evil spirit after she broke the statue that holds the spirit. Tamzin finds out that Moonlight, one of Joel's horses is the blue horse. Moonlight leads Tamzin to a cave to find a talisman to protect her from the grey horse. Tamzin loses her talisman though and is in danger of the grey horse once more.

Everyone, except his mother, thinks Troy is odd. However, when his love of numbers helps him estimate the number of chocolate beans in a jar those around him realize that while Troy's view of life may be odd, in its own way it is brilliant. story, for children from the age of eight, is about Troy, a boy living in a secret locked-up world. His family thinks he is crazy, mad, nutty, barmy - all except his mother, who prefers to pretend there's nothing really wrong. Even she has to take notice when policemen start knocking on doors and Troy gets excluded from school. Amy reviewed an interesting book called “Seriously Weird” by Gene Kemp. Troy feels different from other children but he loves numbers. He is fine when he is by himself but he doesn’t feel fine when he is with other people. When he guesses the correct number in a competition, people realise that has a special talent. He has a sister called Claire who is Amy’s favourite character.

Tess also read “The Siege of White Deer Park” by Colin Dann. A killer beast roams White Deer Park. Mossy Mole discovers the hiding place of the beast. It turns out to be a leopard.

Joseph discovers he has the power to get inside people's mind and make them do what he wants. Now he has to decide whether he will use his ability for good or evil. when the school is robbed and Joseph is caught in the middle. Lizzy is enjoying this book.

Sophie reviewed Terri’s Voice by Anne Winstoe. The book is about Terri- a young Nubian girl in Roman times. She and her family, not including camel, are taken to be slaves to Romans, while her brothers and father are taken to be gladiators. She is employed as a cooking slave and is mistreated. When Terri goes out to the market to buy food, she works in secret for other people, for money, until she gets enough to set her free. Terri leads a protest against slavery, too.

This is the manual for everything that girls need to know, and that doesn't mean sewing buttonholes. Whether it's female heroes in history, secret note-passing skills, science projects, friendship bracelets, double dutch, cats cradle, the perfect cartwheel or the eternal mystery of what boys are thinking, this book has it all. Our member's favourite chapter was the one on Essential gear –all about a swiss army knife, a bandana, a bungy cord and lots more...

A human child has become lost in the Relm and it's up to Jessie to find her. With the help of the magical rainbow wand, Jessie sets off to save the day - only to discover a terrible secret that threatens the peace and safety of the Fairy Realm. Our club member liked the part where the fairy got trapped and where they found out something about their teacher.....

Helen Keller was born in the 1880s and was made both blind and deaf by childhood illness. When she was seven, she got a new teacher, Ann Sullivan. Where none of Helens other teachers had been able to teach her very much, Ann taugh Helen many words and ideas by signing in her hand - the first word being water, that she learnt by having her hand put under a tap and then the sign spelled out. In the next hour Helen learnt thirty more words! Amy was inspired this book about a unique person who overcame great difficulty in her life.

Jessica enjoyed this book. Seven kids have big worries. Their teacher Mr Speed makes up a worry website for them to write about their worries. Claire had nightmares and so Mr Speed gave her a Worry Teddy to take to bed with her. Mr Speed was Jessica's favourite character. Jessica also enjoyed "Wild Whale Watch" a Magic Schoolbus story. She thought the class teacher, Miss Frizzle was great! For readers 8-9 yrs old.

Amy suggests this book would be enjoyed by older girls and younger girls would enjoy "Little House in the Big Woods"

Jack and Annie are about to find out when the magic tree house whisks them back to the days of the Roman Empire. They arrive in Pompeii and soon discover that it will be destroyed. Now Jack and Annie must race against time to find an ancient library before it is buried in ash! Jessica told us about the books she and her friend are reading. The Magic Treehouse series has a book called “Vacation under the volcano". Jack and Annie, who are in all the Magic Treehouse books, are whisked back to the days of the Roman Empire, where they have to find an ancient library before it is destroyed. Another book in the series is “Pirates past noon”. Jack and Annie meet pirates. Jessica’s favourite character is Annie.

Tess told us about the series “Warriors” about clans of cats. Each clan has a different name and there is one clan, Star Clan, which is for the spirits of cats who have just died. In “Sunset” the cats have just moved into a new home because their old home has been destroyed by “two legs”(humans). They are attacked by badgers. Tess really loves this series.

There's trouble in Keith's tropical paradise - his mum and dad are just as miserable as ever. Can Keith's adventure-packed trip to the opal fields save them from spending the rest of their lives as worry warts? Our club member said this was one of three books by Morris Gleitzman-Worry Warts”, “Misery Guts” and “Puppy Fat”. These books are the story of Keith whose parents are a real worry. Keith tries all sorts of things to stop them being unhappy and ends up trying to find other partners for them!! Keith was her favourite character!