Stop Watch: the Land of Dragonay

Sally Morgan, Ambelin, Blaze & Ezekiel Kwaymullina (authors)

Walker Books, Australia: 2010; 108pp

ISBN: 9781921529337

Genres: adventure, fantasy

Tom's Grandpa has entrusted him with the magic Stopwatch, a mysterious design that allows people to travel through time and space. Having just returned from a rather nerve-wracking experience, Tom's surprised that Grandpa has another mission for him so soon but it turns out to be an emergency. Grandpa has just discovered a very unusual egg, which Tom and Bilby (his strange friend) must return to the Land of Dragonay before things go terribly wrong.

Although assured that it's a simple task, Tom finds that Dragonay is in serious trouble. The dragons have all disappeared, the land is under threat from robots, and the Flying Snakes are very, very angry. Tom must discover a solution and the egg seems to be at the heart of the mystery - if only he can keep it safe.

These plot-driven, relatively simple novellas make excellent bridging reading for children moving from picture books to novels. The combined efforts of Morgan et al create strong stories with plenty of action that will appeal to both boys and girls. Bilby is a delightfully eccentric character, rather like a personification of a child's mischievous side, always tempting Tom into further risks, often acting independently without warning; a character who often moves the action forward as well as making readers laugh at his antics.

Good fun for early readers.