Showing posts with label aliens. Show all posts
Showing posts with label aliens. Show all posts

Friday, 28 July 2017

The Fifth Planet

The Fifth Planet by Antoinette Connolly (self published) PB RRP $16.00 ISBN 978-0 9775860-5-9. Copies from a.conolly@optusnet.com.au

Reviewed by Lucinda Gifford

The Fifth Planet is Antoinette Connolly's sixth science fiction novel for children. The enterprising self-published author has also written "The Cauchemar Series", as well as "A Key To Time". The "Fifth Planet" follows the adventures of Abby and Matthew as, after a dramatic electrical storm, they find themselves on an alien ship destined for the planet of Zorgon. Rather than imprisoning the children, the furry, vegetarian, telepathic alien crew of this space shuttle enlist their help in finding a new planet to inhabit, as their own world is politically and geologically unstable. The fantastical adventures that follow encompass travel to planets in our own solar system (which harbour unexpected surprises), wormholes, and the dark side of our own moon. 

Children who are interested in space travel, science fiction – and even geology – should enjoy this book.

Sunday, 22 January 2017

Doodles Activity Book

Doodles Activity Book by Ludo Studios (Allen and Unwin) PB RRP $16.99   ISBN 9781760295448

Reviewed by Daniela Andrews

‘Draw, Snap, Send, Laugh’ … simple, right?

This interactive activity book is a fun accompaniment to the Australian, Emmy-Nominated TV show, Doodles, currently screening on ABC ME. The idea is that kids use the prompts in the book to draw a picture, take a photo of their creation, and upload it to the Doodles website. If their picture is chosen, Ludo Studios (creators of the show) will turn it into a micro-movie and screen it on TV.

With 176 pages of activities, divided into various topics, there is bound to be something that sparks the imagination of budding artists. Sections are titled: Monsters, Aliens and Space, Robots and Technology, Magic and Fantasy, Dinosaurs, Superheroes and Make Your Own Movie. There are also blank ‘Whatever-You-Like’ pages for freeform drawings.

All pages with the ‘Draw, Snap, Send, Laugh’ icons at the bottom can be uploaded to the website if desired. In and around these drawing activities are plenty of other tasks too. There are find-a-words, join-the-dots, fill-in-the-blanks and spot-the-differences. There are those with a modern flavour, for example tasks requiring kids to use emojis to complete a text message. There are some wonderful creative writing exercises included as well.

The design of the book is fantastic and sure to appeal to the target age group (5–12). The front cover is a collage of real drawings by kids, labelled with their names and ages. The activities, by Daley Pearson, are written in a very kid-friendly voice and are quite funny. For example:

‘Robots need a place to live too! Build a house for this robot to live in … unless you want this robot to be homeless. Wait! Do you want this robot to be homeless?’

The amusing activity prompts are perfectly complementary with the whimsical outlined pictures by Francis Stanton, begging for some colour.

It is not necessary to upload pictures to the website, of course. However, kids of all ages and abilities are encouraged to have a try, with an introductory note reassuring them that ‘there are no good or bad drawings’!


Monday, 26 December 2016

Aliens and the Unexpected

Aliens and the Unexpected by Rose Inserra (Rockpool Publishing) HB RRP $24.99   ISBN 9781925017489

Reviewed by Dianne Bates

The target readership of this book which explores mysterious and strange real life occurrences is readers aged 10 to 14 years. It addresses the question which has been debated for decades: are we really alone in the universe? For others interested in unidentified sightings and in the unexplained, author Inserra, an expert in metaphysics, explores a wide range of strange phenomena, asking such questions as whether or not our ancestors have connections to galactic visitors and why famous ancient sites are built on ley lines and how they might connect to extra-terrestrials.

Inserra has really done her homework and has convinced this reviewer of the existence in both the past and the presence of alien life. She has presented so much evidence that it seems difficult to refute it, though governments have done for many years. To start, the author says that archaeologists had discovered strange skulls with non-identifiable human DNA strands. She formulates the hypothesis that ancient aliens visited Earth in prehistoric times – as evidenced by petroglyphs and rock art showing ‘sky beings’ or ‘spirits from the clouds.’ Early fifteenth century Mayan texts from Mexico talk about ‘beings descended from the sky in flying vessels… white men in flying rings who can touch the sky.’ 

Quoting the story of the lost continents of Atlantis and Lemuria, and other ancient sources, Inserra suggests that aliens bred with sub-human beings to produce modern man. How to explain the advanced technologies evident in the building of Pyramids and the giant statues of Easter Island, for example?

The only aspect of the book which seemed to be unsupported by clear evidence is when Inserra writes about the many varieties of aliens which exist, ranging from the Pleiadeans (blond Nordic humanoids or brunettes) with super technology to the Draconians, muscular and dragon-like who are terrifyingly tall and corrupt and brutal. Other alien species mentioned include the Greys, the Nordics, Lyrans, MIBs, Arcturians and Sirians. If you want to know UFO hot spots around the world, the book names them, and also gives examples of dates and places of claimed alien abductions.

In this fascinating and easy-to-read book, there is a wealth of information which cover unexplained phenomenon such as crop circles, the Bermuda Triangle, time travel quantum physics and more. Perhaps our ancient ancestors did have connections to galactic visitors and modern man does have alien DNA (this, suggests Inserrra, would explain the ‘missing link’ of Darwin’s theory).

The book is well-designed with headings, sub-headings, break-out boxes, and really interesting photos some of which show art depicting UFOs. In The Crucifixion painted in 1350, a UFO is shown in the sky (a man sitting inside a sun-like capsule), and there are two other photos of artwork showing UFO-like features in works painted in the 1500s and 1600s.

Children who are intrigued by the idea of aliens and who enjoy a good read are likely to become totally absorbed by the wealth of stories in  this book. They are also likely to walk around trying to convert others to the fact of life beyond Earth. And, too, they might like to follow up their reading by referring to the bibliography of books, magazines and websites at the end of the book.

Aliens and the Unexplained with stories of bizarre, strange and mysterious phenomena of our galaxy is the second in The Supernatural Series, the first being Witches and Wizards by Lucy Cavendish.





Monday, 19 December 2016

Aliens, Ghosts and Vanishings

Aliens, Ghosts and Vanishings by Stella Tarakson, illustrated by Richard Morden (Penguin Random House) HB RRP $27.99
ISBN 97819252324969

Reviewed by Dianne Bates

This non-fiction book for readers aged 9 to 13 years is subtitled ‘Strange and Possibly True Australian Stories.’ A durable publication on good quality paper, its contents pages list has six sub-headings which read as follows: Mythical Creatures, Mysterious Locations, Haunted Places, UFO Sightings, Bizarre Disappearances and Strange Happenings with seven or eight articles in each. For an Australian child interested in exploring the strange and unusual in his or her country, there are certainly some very weird stories.

Most adults would know about events such as the disappearances of Prime Minister Harold Holt and baby Azaria, the death of Phar Lap and of Lasseter’s Reef. But some of the stories in this book might be unfamiliar. These include the story of the disappearance of the steamship SS Waratah with passengers and cargo between Australia and England in 1909 and the retrieval of ancient African coins on Marchinbar, a remote Australian island, far off Northern Territory’s coastline -- coins over 900 years old. In both stories – and most stories in the book – the author poses theoretical questions which would surely give readers pause to wonder. Is the name ‘Waratah’ a jinx? After all, numerous ships with this name have vanished over the years. Was it Portuguese or Kilwan sailors who brought the coins onto land? Or were the coins washed ashore following a shipwreck? Or, stranger still, can Africans, rather than Europeans or Asians, have been the first non-Indigenous people to visit Australia?

After each of the dozens of stories in Aliens, Ghosts and Vanishings (spontaneous combustion, abductions, UFOs, and more), there are break-out pages which provide extra information. The author has also included the many sources from her research which keen readers can follow up if they wish. There is also a fairly short glossary and credits for images. These images include black and white photos (such as the shower blocks from the supposedly haunted Sydney Quarantine Station, and a camel team sent out to search for Lassiter). The illustrator has also provided green images all throughout the book which appear to be some kind of print, perhaps lino, as well as line drawings, again in green. There is a green border around all of the 280 pages.

Most books of the strange and weird are presented to readers in much more attractive and dramatic and colourful formats. But for the child who has an interest in their country and its strange past, this book provides many hours of fascinating reading.




Monday, 1 August 2016

Crusts

Crusts by Danny Parker and Matt Ottley (Little Hare Books) HB RRP $24.99   ISBN 9781742979830

Reviewed by J Wishart

This dynamic picture book is dedicated to all those children who don’t eat their crusts. Sure to resonate with many, its main protagonist, Jacob, is not a crust-eater. His story is delivered via an engaging parallel narrative that also follows three tiny aliens from a distant planet.

The aliens need help as their small planet is crumbling. They have travelled to earth to find the right material to build it up again. When they discover Jacob’s massive stash of discarded crusts they think their problems are solved – until it comes to getting them home. The aliens try to communicate with Jacob through his drawings in the hope he will help. Jacob does start building things with his crusts, but the aliens are disappointed when he seems to be only beginning to explore his crust-fuelled creativity.

The arrangement of Ottley’s lively drawings has the look and feel of a graphic novel or comic. The use of box frames with images from various perspectives – sometimes placed over the main illustration – convey a sense of activity and the passage of time. The alien’s conversations are presented like speech bubbles, while Jacob’s narrative is presented in a conventional story format. This places the reader ‘on side’ with the aliens – observing Jacob – and increases the suspense as they wait to see what he will do next.

Crusts touches on themes such as imagination, resourcefulness, determination and vision. Even the endpapers hint at adventure that lies beyond, with their glimpse of blue sky through a small window. There is humour in the form of visual gags to entertain the observant, and the combination of dialogue, visuals and narrative aid comprehension. 

Readers should enjoy the parallel stories and relate to the scenes of backyard play, invention and the ever-present childhood dilemma over what to do with those unwanted crusts.



Saturday, 26 November 2011

Recon Team Angel: Assault


Recon Team Angel: Assault by Brian Falkner (Walker Books)
PB RRP $19.95
ISBN 9781921720543
Reviewed by Anastasia Gonis

After Falkner’s previous award-winning works, this breath-stopping sci-fi adventure series will blow the top off every previous fast-paced read.

The setting is 2030, Australia, now known as the New Bzadia. The Aliens have control of Africa, Europe, and most of Asia and are headed for America. Humans are at war with Alien forces that have been slowly strengthening in mass and ability for many years in preparation to take-over the world.

Recon Team Angel in made up of a group of six highly trained teenagers selected from around the world; four boys and two girls. Their leader is Lieutenant Chisnall, the eldest of them all. They have been preparing since puberty for their roles in an elite team to war against the Alien Bzadian army. The Angels’ mission is to infiltrate a top secret Alien Facility behind enemy lines which is in the centre of Uluru, and discover what is being hidden there.

For the infiltration to be successful, the six had been made to look like Bzadians. Their bone structure has been restructured to Alien shape and form, and their skin dyed. They’ve learnt the language and habits, and lived as Bzadians so that they could convince any Alien that they were one of them.

Chisnall is the perfect leader who keeps secrets for the safety of his team. It is only when they lose a member do that they discover that there is a traitor in their midst.

Arriving at Uluru are five Angels and two SAS troopers disguised as RAF officers that the team picked up on the way. At Uluru Military Base, it is not the warhead that they plan to detonate to destroy the alien stronghold that scares the life from them. Nor is it the fact that one of them is a sleeper. It is what they discover in the glass cubicles that gives the gut-wrenching twist to the mission. Chisnall is faced with the hardest decision. How many lives can be classed as collateral damage?

All the adult action is superbly covered but simultaneously balanced by exposing the youthful side of the characters. Their thoughts, dreams and interactions are revealed in a witty, comical way. These comic insertions give the story light-hearted relief from the severity of the chaos that surrounds the teenagers.

Tuesday, 22 March 2011

Aliens in Underpants Save the World

Aliens in Underpants Save the World by Claire Freedman, illustrated by Ben Cort (Simon and Schuster)
HB RRP $14.99
ISBN 978-184738969-5
Reviewed by Peta Biggin

Aliens in underpants are back.  This time, the aliens are on a mission to save the world.  A huge meteorite is heading towards Earth and the aliens’ supply of underpants is under threat.  If the aliens are going to save the planet and protect their beloved underpants, they’re going to have to act fast.  Can they do it?  Can they save the day? 

From the creators of the bestselling Aliens in Underpants comes this new adventure featuring some unlikely heroes…in underpants.  The book finds the aliens in the position of needing to save the world (and all the underpants) from a giant meteor.  With quick thinking, they gather all the pants they can – including a pair of polka dotted bloomers – which they stitch together.  The result is an enormous pair of pants that the aliens stretch across the planet to bounce the meteor back into space.

Written in rhyme, the prose seems to bounce along making this a great read-aloud book for preschoolers. 

                             Aliens love underpants,
                             It’s lucky that they do,
                             For pants helped save our universe,
                             Sounds crazy, but it’s true!

Ben Cort’s illustrations are wonderful; full of colour, life and detail.  The aliens come in all sorts of sizes, shapes and colours; as well as being featured in some rather garish underwear.  There are plenty of small details providing lots to see on each page: graffiti on the spaceships; hiding aliens; and underpants appearing as flags, balloons and on bumper stickers. 

Aliens in Underpants Save the World is light-hearted; a bit silly; and, above all, a really fun story. 

Claire Freedman has written many children’s books including Aliens Love Underpants, Squabble and Squawk and Follow That Bear If You Dare!  She lives in Essex with her family.  Ben Cort has illustrated for many picture books including Aliens Love Underpants, The Shark in the Dark and Muddle Jungle.  He lives in Bedfordshire with his family.