The Lonely Lunch Club

The Lonely Lunch Club by Maddy Mara and Laura Stitzel (Affirm Press) PB ISBN 9781923419308

This chapter book is from the creators of Your Kids Next Read, an Australian online community of over 38,000 families that meets on Facebook.

 In seven chapters, it tells how Benji goes to the oval with his lunchbox and a football. He does this every day, but on one Monday, he doesn’t play football. Instead, he goes to an old, wobbly bench. There he meets Alice, who has come to see Mabel, who ‘gets lonely sometimes.’

In a very unlikely scenario, Mabel is a spider that lives under the bench and that Alice has befriended. The next day, Mabel and Benji go to the bench, but find a small boy, Felix, under it. The three of them form ‘The Lonely Lunch Club’ and work to save the bench from being demolished (it is, after all, Mabel’s home).

The main thrust of the book is that a group of school friends come together to decorate the spider's bench.

The positives of this book are that the language is simple, the typeface is large, and there are only a few sentences per page. Chapters are very short. There are black-and-white illustrations on each page.

The main negative is that it is so unlikely that children will befriend a spider and go to such lengths to improve its home. The other negative is the book’s poor-quality pages.

Brave in Every Which Way

Brave in Every Which Way written by Maddy Mara, illustrated by Lauren Degraaf (Affirm Press) PB RRP $24.99 ISBN 9781922806772

Reviewed by Sarah Tegerdine

Brave in Every Which Way by Maddy Mara, with illustrations by Lauren Degraaf, is a heartfelt and empowering picture book that gently redefines bravery for young readers. Rather than focusing on dramatic or dangerous feats, this book celebrates the quiet, everyday moments where children can show courage in their own lives.

The narrative is very relatable, making it clear that bravery isn’t reserved for superheroes or daredevils. Instead, it’s found in the small but significant choices children make each day—like apologising when they’ve made a mistake, trying something unfamiliar, reaching out for help when they need it, or standing up for someone who is being treated unfairly. These examples help demystify the concept of bravery, making it approachable and achievable for every child.

Lauren Degraaf’s illustrations add warmth and vibrancy, perfectly complementing the text and inviting children to see themselves in the characters. The art brings to life the emotions and situations described, reinforcing the message that courage comes in many forms and is within everyone’s reach.

Published by Affirm Press, this picture book is yet another valuable resource for parents, educators, and caregiver’s toolkit who want to nurture resilience and empathy in children. It encourages open conversations about feelings, challenges, and the importance of kindness and self-belief.

Brave in Every Which Way, in summary, is a special picture book that will inspire children to recognise and celebrate their own acts of bravery, no matter how big or small. It’s a gentle reminder that being brave is not about the size of the act, but the heart behind it. Recommended for children aged 3 years of age and up.

 

 

Forever Fairies – Nova Shimmers

Forever Fairies – Nova Shimmers by Maddy Mara (ProQuest LLC) ISBN: 9781761521577 RRP $14.99

Reviewed by Melissa Wray

Nova Shimmers is the second book listed in the Forever Fairies series. However, having not read the first book, this book still stood on its own merit and was just as easy and enjoyable to read as a stand-alone book.

Nova and her friends must pass a particular fairy challenge that allows them to demonstrate their knowledge and understanding of fairy medicine. With the unexpected resistance from some trolls, Nova and her friends learn a couple of other important lessons as well.

With short chapters, well-spaced lines and scattered illustrations, this book has a great layout for any reader to enjoy. Throw in a mix of fairy folk, trolls, magic spells and a high stakes challenge; Nova Shimmers has delightful appeal for anyone who loves the fairy world.

Mara has also included some subtle reminders in the book through the Forever Fairies about friendship, teamwork and the importance of cooperation to work together and get any job done. Mara also reminds the reader that as Nova and her friends, Lulu, Coco and Zali find their way through the tryouts, we each have our own strengths which are important to recognise and nurture.

Forever Fairies – Nova Shimmers is suitable for a 7+ readership.

Dragon Games: The Thunder Egg

Dragon Games: The Thunder Egg by Maddy Mara. Scholastic Australia 2023. Paperback RRP $12.00. e-book RRP $6.38. ISBN 9781760262020.

Reviewed by Debra Williams

This is the first in a new series by the writing duo, Maddy Mara, the pen name of writers Hilary Rogers and Meredith Badger, who have released several bestselling children’s book series, including The Dragon Girls.

Dragon Games: The Thunder Egg is a chapter book. Three classmates, Luca, Yazmine, and Zane are asked to stay behind one lunchtime, for reasons unknown, by their teacher, Ms Long. The teacher often tells tales of a supposedly imaginary land called Imperia. The classroom is old-fashioned, containing a blackboard and a locked glass display cabinet which contains various objects, including a football-sized rock that Ms Long refers to as a geode, also known as a Thunder Egg. She has warned her students that if any of them interfere with the egg, they will find themselves “in a whole world of trouble.”

As the students await her arrival, they stare quizzically at a strange drawing on the blackboard containing things which look like a crown, a tooth, and a fork. The three students try to work it out and suddenly realise it’s a sketch of a map of Imperia, and so they say the name aloud together. As they do, the glass cabinet unlocks, and the thunder egg rolls forward. One of the students catches it and throws it to another. Lights flicker, colours flash and nobody understands what is happening.

Thus begins a fantastic and dangerous, adventurous game. The three find themselves elsewhere, and dramatically changed. Eventually they realise that the Thunder Egg has taken them to Imperia and needs to be taken home to a secret location. Through seemingly impossible obstacles, threatening creatures, perilous journeys and an evil ruler, the classmates move ahead in the quest. Will they achieve the mission and survive?

This story is guaranteed to thrill young readers 7+ years of age. The authors have left the ending ready to lead into the next adventure in the series. Five stars.

Phoebe the Moonlight Dragon

Phoebe the Moonlight Dragon (Dragon Girls Book 8) by Maddy Mara (Scholastic) Paperback RRP $12.99 ISBN 9781761 291753

Reviewed by Karen Hendriks

Dragon Girls is a new series that celebrates everyday girls: it reveals each girl’s secret dragon power as they embark on adventures.

Maddy Mara is the pen name for Australian creatives, Hilary Rogers, and Meredith Badger. They’ve been collaborating on children’s books for nearly two decades. Hilary Rogers is an author and former publishing director. She’s created several series that have sold into the millions. Meredith Badger is an author of many books for both kids and adults. Dragon Girls is their first joint writing venture under the pen name Maddy Mara.

Phoebe the Moonlight Dragon takes us inside the heart of Phoebe as she finds courage and becomes the dragon leader in a secret mission: To save the Magic Forest from the evil Fire Sparks who steal the Dreamlets and threaten the delicate balance between night and day. Phoebe must overcome her fears and ignite her dragon powers.  United in friendship, Phoebe, Rosie, and Stella enter the magic forest when The Tree Queen, who rules the Magic Forest, calls upon them for help. Once there the girls transform into dragons and combine their own unique dragon powers to rescue the Dreamlets.

Maddy Mara knows their targeted readership: the simplicity of the text in this book is a perfect match. Each sentence adds layer upon layer to the storyline. The language is direct and there are no superfluous words. The three girls did everything together, including sleepover club on Friday nights. The story is told from Phoebe’s perspective and the shorter sentences keep the reader engaged and pace the story well. The dialogue is used sparingly and with much impact. ‘Hold on, Dreamlets,’ she called. ‘It’s time to fly.’ But what is most unique about this story is the imaginative world creation and its believability and how it immerses the reader. The Dreamlets, Cloudlike creatures, Sky Shimmers, and Dream Clouds are incredibly clever.  

Phoebe the Moonlight Dragon is a fantastical fantasy read for children aged 6 to 9 years. The larger font text is generously spaced and has illustrations which will support younger independent readers. There are more books in the series to keep a child hooked, which is appealing to parents, teachers, and librarians. This is a book that would make a great gift for any budding young reader.