Children's Books for Younger Readers

The Wide-Awake Princess

E.D Baker (author)

Bloomsbury, UK: 2010, Australian release May 2011; 261pp

ISBN: 9781408807576

Genres: adventure, fairytale, fantasy

Issues: character, friendship, identity, values

Princess Annabelle, younger sister to Gwendolyn (a.k.a. Sleeping Beauty), has a unique gift: she is impervious to magic. So when the beautiful Gwennie finally pricks her finger on a maliciously concealed spindle, it's up to Annie to find the appropriate prince to kiss her sister awake.

Chitty Chitty Bang Bang Flies Again

Frank Cottrell Boyce (author)

Macmillan Children's Books, UK: Australian release 2011

ISBN: 9780330544191

Genres: adventure, fantasy

When Mr Tooting loses his job he is determined to see it as an opportunity (for invention and discovery) rather than a disaster. Unfortunately his inventions and discoveries begin to get on his family's nerves.

The Thornthwaite Inheritance

Gareth P. Jones (author)

Bloomsbury, UK: Australian release September 2009; 272pp

ISBN: 9780747599821

Genres: adventure, crime, gothic

Issues: family, identity

The Thornthwaite twins, Lorelli and Ovid, have been trying to kill each other since they were old enough to read. Now thirteen, they decide to call a truce – but can they trust one another?

Freak Street: Alienson's Time Machine

Knife & Packer (authors)

Scholastic, Australia: June 2010; 93pp

ISBN: 9781741695366 

Genres: adventure, graphic novel, humour

Beware: this book contains, 'An alien wearing giant underpants on his head, dancing the hokey-pokey', amongst other weird and wonderful things.

Small As An Elephant

Jennifer Richard Jacobson (author)

Candlewick Press, USA: May 2011; 275pp

ISBN: 9780763641559 

Genre: realistic fiction

Issues: family, friendship, identity, mental health

When Jack wakes up in his tent on the first day of his summer holidays he finds that his mother has disappeared. Her car, her tent, the food, the cooking equipment – it's all gone, leaving eleven year old Jack on his own.

Freak Street: Wizardson's Time Machine

Knife & Packer (authors)

Scholastic, Australia: June 2010; 93pp

ISBN: 9781741695380

Genres: adventure, graphic novel, humour

As the warning at the front of the book says, this book contains: 'a house that's been turned into a massive frog; a close-up of a giant's cheesy foot; and dragon with a breath so bad it could melt a magic wand.' You'll also find a family of wizards who have to travel back to medieval times to replace the vital staff that is the source of all their magic.

The Wombles

Elizabeth Beresford (author)

Bloomsbury, UK: 1968, December 2010; 240pp

ISBN: 9781408908375

Genre: adventure

Issues: community, environment

The Wombles, furry nocturnal creatures of great strength and considerable intelligence, live in an extensive burrow deep under Wimbledon Common, London, UK. Led by Great Uncle Bulgaria, the Wombles gather anything useful that Human Beings discard on the Common – and it's amazing just what Wombles find useful or reusable.

The Wombles At Work

Elizabeth Beresford (author)

Bloomsbury, UK: 1973, January 2011; 256pp

ISBN: 9781408808368

Genres: adventure

Issues: community, environment, friendship

The Wombles are now living in an older burrow in Hyde Park and goodness, don't those messy Human Beings leave an enormous amount of rubbish!

The Wombles to the Rescue

Elizabeth Beresford (author)

Bloomsbury, UK: 1974, March 2011; 192pp

ISBN: 9781408808382

Genre: adventure

Issues: community, cooperation, environment, friendship

The situation is Womble Urgent and Great Uncle Bulgaria is off to consult with Wombles leaders of the world.

Wombles Go Round the World

Elizabeth Beresford (author)

Bloomsbury, UK: 1976, March 2011; 225pp

ISBN: 9781408808351 

Genre: adventure

Issues: community, environment

Great Uncle Bulgaria is quite offended to find that the young Wombles are getting bored with the old stories but has one of his greatest ideas yet to reinvigorate Womble history lessons.