Running Wild! (Ninja Girl 3)

Running Wild! (Ninja Girl 3) by Anh Do, illustrated by James Hart (Scholastic) HB RRP $18.00

ISBN 9781760269067

Reviewed by Kylie Buckley

Niki is an ordinary girl who lives an ordinary life, except that she inherited ninja skills from her biological father. These skills come in handy, especially when taking on the evil Dr Kane, who is trying to run people out of Green Valley so that he can turn the town into a mine to search for lucrative ‘space gems’.

Niki (Ninja Kid) has an upcoming school excursion to the zoo, and her cat, Connor (Karate Kitten), is begging to go. Of course, cats aren’t permitted on excursions, so the answer is ‘no’, until…. the discovery of Mrs Gray’s ‘morph bracelet’ invention that helps turn Connor into a human.

The excursion to the zoo is not all smooth sailing. Niki experiments with the morph bracelet, which leads to some funny and embarrassing mishaps. Later, the pair realise that Dr Kane is at it again. As the sky turns grey and snow starts to fall, the animals grow into giant evil versions of themselves and break out of their enclosures to terrorise the patrons.

Running Wild! (Ninja Girl 3) is a humorous, action-packed, highly illustrated chapter book for readers aged 7 years and older. The full-colour cartoon illustrations and short text on each page would also appeal to reluctant readers. Running Wild! is recommended for audiences who enjoy fast-paced, good-versus-evil storylines.

Ninja Girl

Ninja Girl by Anh Do. Illustrated by James Hart. Scholastic Australia 2025. Junior Fiction paperback graphic novel RRP $17.99. ISBN 9781760264949.

Reviewed by Debra Williams.

Anh Do is a prolific writer of children’s books. This is the first book in a new series aimed at 7—to 10-year-old readers.

Niki (around 10) is having a wild week. She discovers that she is adopted. Then, whilst playing ‘tips’ with her school friends, she accidentally crashes into a bush where the school gardener is planting shrubs. A mysterious purple gem suddenly appears in the dirt, a gem with strange crystal flecks. The principal calls the museum, and a specialist team removes the gem.

Some of the kids think it’s from outer space and could have special powers. The class teacher, Ms Bing, arranges an excursion to the museum to see the gem. At the same time, Niki is attempting to deal with a rat plague in her parent’s garden. She enlists the help of her cat, Connor, who really isn’t interested to learn about catching rats.

Niki begins to experience some kind of superpowers, abilities she hasn’t had before. On the day of the excursion, Connor sneaks into her school bag and causes havoc at the museum. He accidentally smashes the display case holding the gem and appears to become ill. Then he goes missing.

The evil Dr. Kane appears, attracting hundreds of rats to Niki’s school. He has discovered that there are space gems on the grounds and wants the school to himself.

Niki’s abilities intensify and she eventually realises that she is a Ninja, after a series of events, where she tries to work out how to use her superpowers to save the town from the evil Dr. Kane. Connor reappears, and is suddenly a talking Ninja cat sidekick, who rescues Niki from the grasp of the evil doctor.  

After Niki and her cat agree to become a Ninja team, the story is left open for the next book, Ninja Girl 2.

Shower Land 3: Walk the Plank

Shower Land 3: Walk the Plank by Nat Amoore, illustrated by James Hart (Puffin) PB RP $14.99 ISBN9781761342547

Imagine going for a shower and finding yourself in a different realm. This is life for Felix whose shower acts as a gateway to an entirely different world. But never fear, he’s ready for anything this time, with a backpack full of survival gear. He turns on the shower and finds himself in the middle of the ocean, sinking. Luckily, there’s a ship on the horizon…

This is the third instalment of the Shower Land series by this Australian writer who is passionate about encouraging children to read and write and explore the imagination without boundaries.

Felix’s escapades encourage creativity and imagination, allowing young readers to explore fantastical worlds while learning valuable lessons about resilience and resourcefulness.

The chapter book has frequent cartoon black and white illustrations and words in bold to expediate reading. Suitable for readers aged 7+ years.

Scorpion’s Curse: Sky Dragon 8

Scorpion’s Curse: Sky Dragon 8 Anh Doh & James Hart (Allen & Unwin) Paperback RRP $16.99 9781761069840

Reviewed by Karen Hendriks

Anh Doh is one of Australia’s best-loved storytellers. His junior fiction series Wolf Girl, WeirDo, Hotdog! and Ninja Kid are loved by millions of kids around Australia, having sold over 2.5 million books.

James Hart was raised in the UK before moving to Australia to study illustration, electronic design and multimedia. His illustrated book series include D-Bot Squad, You Choose, Boy vs Beast, Glen Maxwell, Ball Stars and Accidently Awesome.

Amber and her insect friends are back. This time she dares to fly into Toroc with Irene to Uktum to find out what’s causing a mysterious scorpion plague. She ventures underground to Alal Tep -The Assembly of Gods to discover who opened an ancient tomb and stole hidden artifacts and treasures from the Gods. A mysterious illness jeopardises Amber’s chances of solving the mystery as she races to save herself and find a cure to a curse.

Doh has once again written an enticing, adventurous read full of page turns that hook you in. The text flows easily with great pacing. The world building is awesome because Doh logically builds in information that makes what happens believable. I feel the ancient pyramids and the desert have influenced his world creating in this book. Kids like to read about kids being brave and fearless and Amber is a character that does just that. She does have the back up of trusted adults.

Doh describes what Amber sees, hears and feels to bring the reader right into the moment. The verbs are active, and the vocabulary used enriches the story and allows the reader to imagine the scenes themselves. The tension rises with each chapter and event-building to the finale. I love how Doh shows rather than tells so the reader makes his or her own conclusions. This imaginary world certainly feels real, and so do Amber’s powers.

Hart’s black and white illustrations support Doh’s text. The characters have a life-like appeal and the images help explain some of the things Amber sees. For example, ‘Some of the stones are actually hollow. I can see ants moving around inside them.’ We then see an image that supports and explains this. Perspective is used well with drawings of the ruins showing their scale and grandness. The actions of the insects are visually powerful because Hart shows their sheer number and volume wonderfully. I particularly love when Amber is riding the insects as a dragon in the sky. Visually it is very powerful. Illustrative movement features well to highlight the action happening. Hart’s characters are well rounded and expressive, and he helps support a wonderful imaginary world.

Scorpion’s Curse: Sky Dragon 8 is an enthralling junior novel that connects to younger readers with a thrilling adventure that won’t disappoint Anh Doh fans. This book is great for juveniles to read -- it will appeal to kids, parents, teachers and librarians.

 

Sky Dragon – Brave the Storm

Sky Dragon – Brave the Storm by Anh Do, illustrated by James Hart (Allen and Unwin) ISBN 978-1-76106-560-6 PB RRP $ 15.99

Reviewed by Nean McKenzie

The beginning of the fourth book in the Sky Dragon series, sees main character Amber injured with concussion, from her fight with Money Man in the previous book.  She realises that her normal powers – being able to summon insects and transform into a sky dragon – are gone. She goes on a trip with her grandmother Irene to the jungle in Asia, to relax and regain her powers.  Meanwhile, Agent Ferris does a deal with a woman called Scarlet Stewart for something called ‘Project Aquarius’ and Firefighter struggles with his memory loss.

Full of action, the story tells of Amber’s struggle between being ‘normal’ and wanting her powers back. In the rainforest she meets a girl called Lin who is initially suspicious of Amber but has a struggle of her own. The villagers are fighting against Evercorp, a group of mercenaries who have come to steal the legendary diamonds in a nearby cave. The group includes Scarlet Stewart and two robots. As they fight against the mercenaries, Amber and Lin become friends.

Fast paced, the story set in the jungle is quite exciting, with blow darts as weapons, vines to climb up the sides of cliffs and a special blue smoke signal to ask for extra help when in trouble. Amber only regains her powers when she is most in need of them. Frequent illustrations and the eye-catching green cover add to the characterisation and setting. At the end, when Amber’s story is wrapped up, Agent Ferris discovers Firefighter (who has regained his memory) has disappeared, setting things up nicely for Sky Dragon 5.  

Sky Dragon Brave the Storm is suitable for middle-grade readers. A chapter of Anh Do’s next Wolf Girl book (number 7) is included as a teaser at the end of this book.    

Mr Bambuckles Remarkables Join Forces

Mr Bambuckles Remarkables Join Forces by Tim Harris, illustrated by James Hart (Puffin Books) PB RRP $14.99 ISBN 9781761044557

Reviewed by Dianne Bates

Everyone’s favourite teacher, Mr Bambuckle, is back in another book in the Remarkables series with more stories, shenanigans, and silliness at Blue Valley School. 

In this, the fifth book in the series, the students in Room 12B have four new students -- Fern who loves animals, Twirl who loves to dance, Chip who likes computer hacking and Veer who enjoys playing the drums. Principal Sternblast is once again the thorn in the side of all: this time he is planning to use the Sprinkler Building Corp to privatise Blue Valley and fill it with only exceptional students. This is anathema to those in room 12B and they must find a way of changing this.

Just before term break, the class’s students are expelled from the school with only five remaining. Their new teacher Mr Stodge is a colourless, middle-aged man, nothing like Mr Bambuckle who rides a unicycle in the classroom and distributes free goodies to his students. Happily, thanks to Chip’s work on the computer, the government orders that the new school building is ceased until further notification. The book finishes with a new acting principal (Miss Frost), and Mr B and his class are reinstated and planning an overseas trip.

This fact-paced, humorous book uses a variety of writing genres to advance the story (eg speech balloons when Mr Bambuckle talks to Canteen Carol, notes passed between students, lists of emails, and love letters). At the front of the book are vignettes of the 17 students in Mr B’s class with their likes and dislikes. There are frequent black, grey and white cartoon-style illustrations to add to the general overall feel of the book.

Recommended for readers aged 8+ years.

 

 

 

 

The Unfunny Bunny (A HARE-larious Easter Tale)

The Unfunny Bunny (A HARE-larious Easter Tale) by Adrian Beck, illustrated by James Hart (Puffin Books) HB RRP $17.99 ISBN 9781761043093

Reviewed by Kathleen Grace                                                                                                                       

‘This most EGG-cellent Easter story will have the whole family laughing out
loud,’ the publisher says in its publicity blurb. Told in rhyming verse, it tells of a girl who decides everyone needs a bit of laugh when it’s raining, and they’re all stuck in the beach house over Easter. So, when she catches the Easter Bunny sneaking into the beach house, she can hardly contain her excitement: she'll make her family's egg hunt EGGS-tra funny! Dressed in a bunny suit, she follows the Easter bunny as it drops off eggs in Gran’s garden, the henhouse, on books in the pool, and other zany places.

The illustrations, cartoonish and bright, are amusing, for example, accompanying the quatrain, ‘Pop’s on a health kick, Which he finds unappealing, So we placed all his eyes Up high, near the ceiling’, there’s a drawing of Pop reaching up to the ceiling fan from his gym mat. The two egg distributors bury eggs in a Liv’s sandpit, even placing a few eggs in Dad’s underpants.

 

Full of Easter and egg puns (such as EGG-sausted, EGG-sactly, Egg-stremely) and pranks, sniggers, and smiles, this joyfully illustrated picture book celebrates family and fun: it's sure to be read year after year by children who still believe in the Easter bunny.

Super Geeks: Planet Pancake

Super Geeks: Planet Pancake by James Hart (Puffin Books) PB RRP $14.99 ISBN 9781760895143

Reviewed by Dianne Bates

Zeek’s plan is world domination, with his friend Arnie Baker and Eleanor, a goldfish in the bowl. The two boys are super geeks who love robots and drones, coding computers, and more geek activities. They also invent machines such as the ice-cuber (which kills flies) and the pancake maker which explodes and then goes missing. The two build a quirky ship they name The Enchilada and then help Gunther, owner of their favourite store, TECH-HEDZ search for his missing dog Penelope. At sea, the boys battle a storm and attacks from seagulls, sharks, whales and starfish.

With an explorer, Morag, a monster hunter, and his pet monkey Agnes, they sail to the edge of the world, a towering ice wall beyond which they expect to find treasures and riches. The Agnes climbs the wall, and on the other side they discover junk as far as the eye can see. They are then attacked by a massive tentacled creature with hundreds of eyes called The Finder.

So far in the book, action has been fast, but it’s here on the edge of the world, action becomes super superfast, with non-stop madcap and riotous events. This action is also mirrored in the illustrations which are ultra-zany and imaginative, full of highly eccentric characters who meet danger face on and yet despite many perils, manage to survive.

Every page of Super Geeks Planet Pancake is a visual treat. This book is sure to be enjoyed by even the most reluctant of readers. The Finder is a surprise and how the boys (and goldfish Eleanor) manage to escape and reach home is super exciting.

Mr Bambuckle’s Remarkables: On the Lookout

Mr Bambuckle’s Remarkables: On the Lookout by Tim Harris, illustrated by James Hart (PenguinRandom House) PP RRP $14.99 ISBN9780143793144

Reviewed by Dianne Bates

This is the fourth book in Australia Harris’ book series about Australia’s favourite literary teacher, Mr Bambuckle who oversees students of room 12 B. The book begins with a roll call of those 14 students, which includes their names, pictures of them and their likes and dislikes. One of the students is Vex Vron who likes cars and dislikes almost everything apart from cars.

The story begins at camp which has Mr Bambuckle and the stern assistant principal Miss Frost, both very different. Mr Bambuckle values learning, individuality and fun while Miss Frost is far more concerned with discipline, procedures and efficiency. Student Vex has left a note to indicate he is running away so the hunt is on to find him before his parents and school realise he is missing. This involves everyone, including new twin sisters, Grace and Gabby Wu.

As in the previous books in this series, Harris makes use of visual page ‘tricks’ such as phone calls, conversations (with cranky canteen Carol), notes (passed from students to one another) and ‘dos’ and ‘don’ts’. The book, also like the others, is full of witty asides, jokes and sparkling dialogue. Sentences are generally short and there are snappy, fast-paced actions that lead to a happy conclusion. All of these devices make this book another to be enjoyed by readers aged 9 to 12 years.

You Choose: Mayhem at Magic School

You Choose: Mayhem at Magic School by George Ivanoff, illustrated by James Hart (Random House Australia)

PB RRP $14.99

ISBN 9780857983848

Also available as an ebook

ISBN 9780857985460

Reviewed by Marian McGuinness

Whereas Book 1 in this You Choose … series fired readers’ imaginations by plunging them into the world of pirates and buried treasure, Book 2, Mayhem at Magic School, takes readers on a rollercoaster of all things magic.

Prolific, inventive author George Ivanoff, continues to use his fast-paced, humorous and interactive style to entice readers seven years and older to dive into the magical adventure and decide their fate. Ivanoff knows what kids want and writes as if he’s one step ahead of them, teasing them this way and that.

From the opening sentence where a ball freezes in mid-air as you stare at it, you are the protagonist. You are in control of the situation and you have discovered that you have magical powers.

It’s an exciting scenario for any young reader. Suddenly, in class, a bunch of white rabbits appear. Did you make that happen? The other kids think so and call you a ‘freak!’

Along this 16-storyline path to magical adventure Ivanoff uses short, action-packed scenarios smattered with graphic novel style illustrations featuring you.

There are lots of questions at each story intersection. ‘Where will you go?’ ‘Where will you sleep?’ ‘How will you get food?’ And the biggie … ‘Who will you meet in the magical mansion?’ None other than Chang Lee, the great Master of Illusion who offers you the chance to be his apprentice and learn everything he knows …

OR

Choose the other path where you find out you belong to a long line of enchanters, which means, you’re off to Magic School.

With an enchanted scroll ‘equivalent to an iPad’ and a red ancestral jewel that creates magic even if you don’t want it to, there are heaps of hazards in store. It’s time for you to get lost … in the magic of the adventure.

You Choose: The Treasure of Dead Man’s Cove

You Choose: The Treasure of Dead Man’s Cove by George Ivanoff, illustrated by James Hart (Random House Australia)

PB RRP $14.99

ISBN 9780857983831

Also available as an ebook

ISBN 9780857985453

Reviewed by Marian McGuinness

  

With its manga-inspired cover The Treasure of Dead Man’s Cove is the first book in this new series called YOU CHOOSE … aimed at boys seven years and up.

In the vein of the Choose Your Own Adventure stories of the 80s (devoured by my chapter-book-shy sons), George Ivanoff is on to a winner with this latest addition to his 70+ children’s books.

The scenario is fast and furious. You are on a beach holiday. You find an old map … aye me hearties, a Pirate Map! While your parents read on the beach you wander over the cliffs and find a tunnel leading to …

No. You’re going to have to go down that path yourself; I’m heading back to choose another scenario.

The opening pages are full of promise: treasure, pirates, Dead Man’s Cove and One-Eyed William who had a ‘huge ruby in his deformed empty eye socket.’

Ivanoff has speckled the stories with interesting characters. Who could resist Professor Wagner with his ‘mismatched eyes – one small and squinty, the other wide and staring.’ In the museum there’s the ‘tall woman with spiky blonde hair’ who ‘looks as if she’s been sucking a lemon,’ and what’s a pirate story without a macaw named Mr Fibuli and a town mayor who speaks pirate-talk.

Fun puns run amok in the town: Toys Argh Us, Long John’s Silverware and Shiver Me Timbers Hardware.

There are numerous pathways for the reader to explore. Each path choice is about a page in length, which makes for quick, fun reading. The stories are totally plot driven and each page number is superimposed with skull and crossbones for added effect.

With 19 endings, there are plenty of scenarios to follow. Will you discovery the secret stone, that when pressed, opens into a cavernous pirate graveyard filled with Indiana Jones-like booby traps? Can you escape fast enough not to be skewered by a spear?

Black and white etchings of coins, treasure chests and maps smatter the pages as ‘you’ the reader make the decisions and take control of the storyline. The Treasure of Dead Man’s Cove is a swashbuckling start to the series.