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Early Reader Book Reviews
Agent Arthur’s Desert Challenge
Martin Oliver, adapted by Russell Punter, illus. Paddy Mounter, pub. Usborne
I think Usborne Puzzle Adventures are older than me, they feel as though they have always been around, in print, on shelves of bookshops, libraries, schools and homes everywhere. They are simple, timeless and offer such an endless range of possibilities that it should be no surprise they continue to be popular and now that there are different versions for older and younger readers they get even better! Agent Arthur’s Desert Challenge welcomes readers to join a worldwide undercover organization. Action Agency are dedicated to fighting crime and solving mysteries. Agent Arthur is a new recruit, one of the youngest, and he is in good company with his faithful dog Sleuth, travelling the world on missions.
If you think you are ready to help the Agency continue to uphold its Search, Solve and Survive motto then this is the adventure for you. Personally, I think the survive part of that is most important but, if you’d like to challenge it there might be options in this adventure. After all this is a challenge book and that means reading the story before making choices in order to continue. On this occasion the baddies are the Spider Organization and they are hatching a plan in the heat of the desert. Can you, Agent Arthur and Sleuth survive the sun long enough to uncover the plan and foil the plot? Get your sleuthing and problem-solving skills ready for this exciting, interactive adventure.
Louise Ellis-Barrett
Captain Danger and the Stupid Shadow
Victor Engbers, trans. David Colmer, pub. Pushkin Books
A rather nonsensical and zany story that is packed with silliness and absurdity. With its simplistic, naïve illustrations, Captain Danger and the Stupid Shadow is a wild ride that is sure to delight younger readers aged 5–8 years.
When Captain Danger’s shadow starts being silly hanging out the washing, he pegs him to the washing line alongside his pants and socks. However, in the morning the shadow has gone – and it turns out he has run away to Cut-It-Out Island. This kicks off a chaotic chase filled with bizarre and imaginative encounters. Along the way, Captain Danger is captured by an octopus, trapped inside a jellyfish by the Mermaid King, befriends a baby dragon but is chased off by its fire-breathing mother and tangles with giant insects. He even falls into a volcano, manages to escape but gets snatched by a nasty two-headed pink bird who drops him into the jaws of an oily fish! The twist? It was all a planned birthday adventure by his mischievous shadow!
Full of absurd humour and unexpected turns, this is a fun, fast-paced read perfect for children who love unpredictable stories and madcap adventures.
Barbara Band
Flember: The Secret Book
Jamie Smart, pub. David Fickling Books
Get ready for an explosive adventure full of invention, imagination, and one very unlikely hero. The Secret Book, the first in the popular Flember series by Jamie Smart (of Bunny vs Monkey fame), takes readers on a fast-paced journey to a mysterious island powered by the magical force of Flember, and at the heart of it all is a curious, brilliant boy called Dev. Dev is a boy who loves to invent things. The only problem? His inventions don’t always work out quite how he planned. When he discovers a strange glowing book and accidentally creates a mechanical bear called Boja, Dev finds himself on a mission full of danger, discovery, and questions he never thought he’d have to answer.
Smart’s storytelling is full of energy, humour, and heart. Whether it’s malfunctioning gadgets, unexpected explosions, or the growing friendship between Dev and Boja, there’s always something to keep you turning the pages. The illustrations throughout add even more fun to the experience, bursting with character and clever little details for readers to spot. This book is ideal for readers aged 7 and up, especially those who enjoy science, adventure, and a bit of mayhem. Underneath all the chaos, there are gentle messages about trust, courage, family and friendship, and using your talents for good, even if they sometimes land you in trouble first.
The Secret Book is perfect for reading at bedtime, in class, or anywhere you feel like stepping into a world where invention meets imagination. Just take caution if you come across any mysterious glowing books...
Arabella Chute
Ivy and Bearlock Holmes: The Case of the Missing Flower
Kristyna Litten, pub. Magic Cat Publishing
Come with me reader, to Bearona, I will even provide a helpful map, well okay the book will do that part so make sure to keep it safe, it is certain to be handy. Meet Ivy Holmes, every weekend she and her grandpa, Bearlock Holmes, go on an adventure in Bearona, always with a notebook in case something interesting should happen! You see Bearlock may be retired now but he was once a legendary detective who knew the importance of snacks too, after all no-one can solve a mystery if their stomach is empty… There are a few more characters to meet and then it is into Bearona we find ourselves going, beginning with the Botanic Gardens. This is going to be their grand opening weekend; the excitement is building.
When Ivy and Bearlock arrive the crowd is huge, it’s so big it looks like a maze of people and they are going to need your help to find their way through it. This must be the first of the fifteen puzzle scattered through the book that readers need to help with. Are your sleuthing skills up to the challenge? What comes next is the reveal, the big mystery that you are going to be a part of. The Agave flower has gone, it is missing, there is no way now that the special bloom can be celebrated, there is no flower. With action abounding throughout this charming story which blends mystery with science and nature readers will find themselves on a journey of discovery and learning whilst enjoying a wonderfully interactive book.
Louise Ellis-Barrett
The Lucky House Detective Agency
Scarlett Li, illus. Sian James, pub. Knights Of
In this middle grade detective story filled with action and tension, Felix and his friend Isaac are surprised to find an unusual coin buried deep in a plant pot. They enjoy solving mysteries together, and this discovery generates a need to find out who was responsible for putting it there. Felix lives in a takeaway with his parents, and he comes to the conclusion that all of the customers are suspects in causing damage to the Lucky Jade plant.
The two friends decide to put their detective skills to work to find the saboteur. It appears though, that even with their best efforts to crack this mystery, the friends will have to work together with Felix’s cousin Nina Dong, his greatest nemesis, in order to find the explanation that they're looking for. What is the connection between this seaside town and Hong Kong, and can the truth be uncovered by using the newly formed Lucky House Detective Agency? There is an uplifting bond between Felix and Isaac, and they do disagree at times, but they care too much about their friendship to fall out for long.
A mystery series is a great way to get kids interested in reading, and this is no exception with black and white illustrations and funny, adventurous, and diverse characters. Packed with laughs and adventures it is a great choice for newly independent readers.
Katy Ralph
My Magic Hamster: Cheeky Wishes
Leah Mohammed, pub. Hachette Children’s Group
My Magic Hamster tells the tale of Sana who shares a house with her family, she and her mum on one side, Her aunt, uncle and cousins on the other and her grandad, Dada, at the front. Whilst out shopping with her birthday money Sana sees a sign for a magic Hamster and wishes that her Uncle Dev would let her buy it and… wondrously he does!
Sana isn’t immediately sure she believes the hamster is at all magical, though he is very cute, but certain that he can understand just what she is saying Sana offers up names, and with what seems very much like his approval, they settle on Frank. Sana decides to explore the idea that he could be magical by asking Frank to turn himself blue and soon realises that he can only do so when she actually ‘wishes’ for him to. What follows is a madcap tale of a young girl and a magical, but very mischievous hamster, who it seems gets a wish of his own in return for each wish he grants. Sana soon finds that keeping Frank’s magic a secret isn’t going to be easy when he seems intent on causing mayhem.
A fun and light-hearted read, My Magic Hamster is a delightfully humorous tale that will delight very young children age 5+ who are new to chapter books. The book actually has two stories in with Cheeky Wishes followed by another story Animal Antics, also about Sana and Frank. This is a real bonus as not only does it mean that the fun continues, but also that what could be seen at first as a rather long book for an early reader, is actually less intimidating than it may seem. The chapters are nicely paced and fairly short with some lovely illustrations, provided by the publisher, which will help to keep young readers engaged.
Tracey Corner
Rory and the Snack Dragons
Louisa MacDougall, illus. Giulia Cregut, pub. Little Door Books
Rory and Flora don’t have the best of starts when they first meet. It is not because Flora is a princess and Rory is a dragon, though that could have something to do with it, after all don’t all the fairytales tell us that dragons are always kidnapping princesses. There is kidnapping of a princess by a dragon in this story but it honestly was a mistake. Rory wanted the bike not its owner! Now, as you might imagine Flora is not best pleased that she has been kidnapped and Rory is not best pleased that he now has a grumpy princess. They can’t seem to agree on anything including whether they should share lunch or Rory should just eat Flora… Hmmm which way do you think that should go?
Fortunately, or not, depending on how you look at it, both of their kingdoms are in danger so unless they can find a way to get along they may not have homes to live in, lunch could become a redundant question. If the pair can find a way to work together, filling their tummies so they have the energy they will need for the battle ahead, we might all be able to rest a little easier. But there is another small problem, okay smallish! Rory doesn’t like hunting or facing down trouble so he decides the best thing to do is hide. The other dragons find him (it’s sort of hard to hide when you’re a huge dragon!) If he doesn’t find something useful to do they might ban him from flying. Perhaps Flora can help? A delightful story, filled with wonderful illustrations, reminding us how to make friends and find our bravery.
Louise Ellis-Barrett
Rory and the Balloon Bicycles
Louisa MacDougall, illus. Giulia Cregut, pub. Little Door Books
Rory is a dragon; his good friend is Princess Flora and together the pair love to have exciting adventures but at the same time they very much like to make sure they are taking care of the world. The message is important and Louisa MacDougall has ensured she fits it into the story without it coming across too strongly. After all this is a story for Early Readers. They are guaranteed to enjoy this story which features mountain bikes and balloons… Intrigued? Good, that is always a great way to start a new book, to be curious about the story, to wonder what will happen and, in this instance, if Rory and Princess Flora can save the day and the world before it goes POP!
When Rory and Flora discover a mountain of rusty mountain bikes in the wilderness they are understandably horrified. Who would just dump bikes and leave them to rust? You’ll be as surprised as they were to learn that it was their friends. They decided to swap their bikes for brand new disposable ones made from … balloons! These balloon bikes, marketed as ‘Blow-Up Bikes,’ are part of a plan being hatched by Evil Lyn. She wants to take over the kingdom by polluting everything including Flora’s village and the dragon’s vegetable farm. Can the duo restore the original bikes and stop the evil scheme in time? A very clever, funny story with short chapters and expressive illustrations.
Louise Ellis-Barrett
Small Fry
David Baddiel, illus. Cory Loftis, pub. HarperCollins Children’s Books
Benny Burns loves to cook. His dad, Lenny, owns a burger van which fans of Bracket Wood FC attend religiously every Saturday before the game and Benny loves to help out with the food. Benny is only allowed to do the hot dogs though, that is until he steps in and makes burgers for the first time which the fans can’t stop talking about! The challenge for Benny and his dad is that Bonkers Burgers! is one of the largest burger businesses in the country and they have a store in the town. When Bodley Bonkers, head of the company, takes a liking to Benny’s burger however, he becomes obsessed with finding the secret recipe that Benny follows which leads to an all-out-burger war between the two companies. Will Benny come out on top, or will Bodley Bonkers find a way to take the only thing that Benny and his dad have left?
The characters in this book are fantastic and include a whole range of people. Benny, the protagonist, is hard-working, a good friend and is driven to become a great chef whereas Bodley Bonkers (the crazy owner of Bonkers Burgers!) is an out-of-touch man who simply wants all the reward for very little effort. He is willing to cut corners and manipulate the rules so that they are all in his favour and no-one else has the power to prevent him from doing so. Benny’s friends have an important part in this story as well, especially Mina who shares her experiences of being a vegan with Benny which leads him making an important change in his life and gives the story a neat twist. Employee of Bonkers Burgers!, Nick Norbert, is the most amusing character and his journey through this book is comical as he constantly gets caught out for his poor decision making and always ends up in trouble!
David Baddiel is a popular author and books like this are the reason for that. He has taken a simple idea and made an entertaining read out of it. Children of a range of ages will be able to enjoy the story and have a laugh on the way. Cory Loftis’ illustrations go hand-in-hand with the story as well – the double-page art at the beginning of each part of the story are full of detail and capture the characters fantastically well.
Small Fry is a fun book that is easy to read and well-paced – readers who enjoyed The Parent Agency and Birthday Boy will definitely take pleasure in making their way through Small Fry as well.
Tom Joy
Squirrel and Duck: Mission Improbable
Tom Percival, pub. Bloomsbury Children’s Books
This is the first in a new comedy series that introduces a new and unlikely double act that you might not expect - Squirrel and Duck. Although they might seem like odd housemates, the fact that they are the only two talking animals in the whole world is actually what brings them together. Using a fibreglass tree as a home, Squirrel and Duck live in an abandoned theme park with Duck's treasured pet cactus Mr Spikes. Fearing being discovered by human beings as the world's only talking animals, they hide out eating takeaway pizza and caring for Mr Spikes.
When a bulldozer arrives to redevelop the abandoned theme park Squirrel and his friend Duck call home, they flee with nothing but Mr Spikes. One day a great opportunity arises when they eavesdrop on two foolish art thieves discussing where the world's most valuable painting is hidden. The two of them resolve to find the painting - with Duck hoping to return it to its rightful owner, and Squirrel hoping to earn enough money for a nice place to live! Except for a few woodland creatures who are proving surprisingly unhelpful, all that stands between them and their goal is a temporary lack of transport.
This illustrated chapter book is full of hilarious moments that will have young readers giggling out loud from beginning to end. Recommended age 6+.
Katy Ralph
YELP! YETI! Chaos in Kathmandu
​Sneha Pradhan, illus. Promina Shrestha, pub. Flying Eye Books
Dev has a big imagination and a bit of a track record for getting into mischief, so when he claims there’s a Yeti in the house making a mess, it’s not really any wonder that his family don’t believe him – who’s ever heard of a Yeti in Kathmandu, especially in the summer! As the Yeti creates more and more chaos, Dev becomes more and more desperate to prove its existence, if he can’t, he’ll be sent to spend the summer with Ranu Aunty. With the help of his loyal cat Tuna, Dev sets out to capture the Yeti and prove his innocence.
I’ll be totally honest and say that I wasn’t sure that I’d really enjoy reading this book. It is a comic-strip style book, and I am not much of a comic-strip style book reader. So, on first glance, my heart sank - just a little. However, as it is my role to ‘read’ and review, I duly opened it up and began and thank goodness I did. This book is absolutely brilliant! So easy to read and so wonderfully funny that I found myself laughing out loud, yet at the same time so incredibly educational – so many wonderful facts and new words to discover (so clever to do this so well in a fiction book). With Sneha Pradhan’s wonderfully written story brilliantly encapsulated by the most humorously detailed illustrations by Promina Shrestha, there is not a single dull moment within this book! In fact, once I began reading, I read straight through to the end and was actually disappointed it was over. However, don’t be mistaken for thinking that this book is all light-hearted fun – it’s not. Nestled at its core YELP! YETI! is a wonderfully heartwarming story of friendship and acceptance.
Readers 5+ will love spotting the Yeti hidden within the illustrations and learn the pronunciation and meaning of several Nepalese words as they read too. YELP! YETI! is a hugely entertaining and colourful tale and one I simply cannot recommend highly enough. It has completely changed my view on comic-strip style stories, and I am thrilled to learn that the next book featuring Dev, Tuna and the Yeti will be out soon!
Tracey Corner