The Boy with Wings

The Boy with Wings by Lenny Henry (Macmillan Children’s Books) PB RRP $18.99 ISBN 9781529067835

Reviewed by Kathleen Grace

Children’s TV star Sir Lenny Henry debuts with this, his first novel with Macmillan Children’s Books. 

How important is school when you learn that you are all that stands between Earth and total destruction? This, well into the book, is the dilemma facing Caribbean boy Tunde.

In the first chapter we learn that Tunde is the adopted only child of parents who work at The Facility. It is his 12^th birthday, and he has invited his friends, wheelchair-bound Kyle, Jiah and (Nev)ille to his party. However, bullies Quinn Patterson, Sanjay, Billy, and Pauly, cause chaos when they gatecrash (and wreck) things. Happily, the bully gang is attacked and scared off by a flock of over a thousand magpies. This isn’t the first time Tunde has experienced an intervention from things with wings. Once, when he was lost, a thousand birds formed an arrow in the sky to show him the way home. Later, in the middle of a football match when he leaps for the ball, he stays in the air – wearing an enormous pair of wings!

The story sometimes segues into different anecdotes: for example, there’s a chapter inserted about The Facility and its founder, Professor Emil Krauss, and another chapter about The Seeker. Other chapters are basically about Tunde. After his 12^th birthday, there’s a chapter about when he is 11 and his adoptive parents ‘change’: his dad stops telling jokes and there are new rules, such as ‘you are not to run or do any sports.’ Despite this, Tunde takes part in a 1,500 metres race (which he wins).

Under the guidance of The Seeker, Tunde gains new powers, a secret past, and some powerful people who are determined to keep that past secret. There is also a problem regarding The Facility -- one suspecting that it has something has to do with Tunde’s being adopted.

This is an action-packed but disjointed story with words in the text – like 'YIKES', 'flatulent', 'humongous', and 'ducked' – in different, and sometimes bold font. There are also invented words like ‘brill-tissimo-tastic’, ‘gazil-ton’, ‘yum-a rama’. Black, grey, and white illustrations are scattered through the book.

The recommended reading age for this adventure, fantasy novel is middle grade.

Lego City Fire Station

Lego City Fire Station (Macmillan Children’s Books) HB RRP $9.99 ISBN 9781529048360

Reviewed by Dianne Bates

Lego bricks are known throughout the world, allowing children and fans to build and rebuild anything they can imagine. In this board book, push, pull, and slide moving parts help bring the Lego fire station to life. 

The fire chief and her crew need help to open fire station doors, load the kit, check the ladder and hose, put on helmets, then jump on board. Once the fire engine is outdoors, there is a slide mechanism to make the helicopter take off, and then slide the scene-changing mechanism is needed to drive off in the fire engine. The last page shows the fire engine with ‘the siren and the engine’s flashing light’ zooming through the streets on its way to the fire.

The thick pages with their rounded-corners will withstand many small fingers pulling and sliding the various tabs to make a helicopter appear, to make the fire engine appear to be moving forward, and much more. The illustrations are full colour with many details including a drone, inside the firemen’s office, preparations for leaving the station and, on the last page, a city scene with numerous walkers on either side of the road where the fire engine is speeding.

Another push, pull and slide board book in the Lego series is Lego City Building Site where workers toil in a huge pit on engines such as a bulldozer and crane (with a wrecking ball). They clear rubble (including Lego bricks) into a dumpster truck  and build walls, stacking them row by row. When the job is completed, the last page shows the final product of all the labours – a new school with a crowd of students ready to go indoors.

Small children from 3+ years are sure to have hours of fun with these two books in the Lego series.

You are a Champion: How to be the BEST You Can Be

You are a Champion: How to be the BEST You Can Be by Marcus Rashford, written by Carl Anka (Macmillan Children’s Books) PB RRP $19.99

Reviewed by Dianne Bates

Better known in the UK where he is an MBE for his contributions to international football and as a child food poverty campaigner, Marcus Rashford has won many accolades and awards. Thus he is probably the best person to guide a book which is an inspiring, empowering, and practical guide to life for young people aged 10 years and older.

From early childhood as a normal child to recent years, Rashford uses his own experiences to give children the tools needed for success, showing that it is possible to achieve dreams, and that success is all about the right mind set. Positive thinking, he says, can change lives. He also says that people should be comfortable with who they are. They should practise like champions and word hard. To this, he adds building mental resilience and standing up for others; navigates adversity and discover the unstoppable power of their own voice. He strongly believes each child is a champion and that they have the power to achieve their dreams.

Each chapter is full of practical advice, engaging illustrations, and infographics, including advice from performance psychologist Katie Warriner. By the time a young person finishes reading this book, they can surely become the best version of themselves.