Journey to the River Sea
by Eva Ibbotson
A lovely story which transports you to the Amazon, and you can just visualize the sights and sounds of the river creatures and jungle animals. Maia's parents have died and she boards at a girls school in England. Distant cousins of her parents offer to look after her, and to Maia's delight she finds that they live in the Amazon right on the river. However, delight turns to dismay when she discovers just how awful they all are. Her only allies are Miss Minton her governess, Finn an aristocrat-born jungle boy, and Clovis a travelling young actor. Adventures and disasters befall Maia in this beautifully told book.
The Secret Hen-House Theatre
by Helen Peters
Hannah lives with her 2 sisters and one brother on a working farm. Their mother has died and so their father struggles with looking after his children and running a loss-making farm. The rent has doubled and he is slowly selling farm machinery and cattle to pay for it. Hannah and her best friend Lottie yearn to put on a play at the farm and enter it into the local drama competition. Two acts of vandalism occur on the farm which threaten the future of the play, but the show must go on, and Hannah and Lottie are determined to overcome any obstacle put in their way.
A charming story of life on a farm based on the author's real childhood of growing up and working on her parents' farm.
Wendy Quill is a Crocodile's Bottom
by Wendy Meddour
Perfect for lovers of the Daisy and the Trouble With...books by Kes Gray (very funny), Mr Gum by Andy Stanton, and the Clarice Bean series by Lauren Child.
Wendy Quill would love to be famous, but each time she tries, (trying to get the lead role in the school play, for example), something or someone upsets the plan.
The story is laugh out loud funny, with great illustrations by the author's 11-yr-old daughter. Their next story will be Wendy Quill Tries to Grow a Pet - can't wait!
Claude In The Spotlight
by Alex T.Smith
(Review by Megan)
This is the fourth book in the series, and Claude has journeyed his way into a theatre to perform a dance routine, but he doesn't know what could happen...
On his way looking for an adventure, Claude finds himself entering a dance class, and the teacher is so impressed with him, that she wants Claude to perform in the fabulous Variety Show in the theatre that afternoon! Of course Claude doesn't want to be rude, so he agrees,and goes off to perform! Nothing bad could happen there, could it?..
I really enjoyed the way that Alex T.Smith talks about Claude, and all the other characters talk to him as if he's a human, which is very humorous! My favourite part of the book is when Sir Bobblysock (Claude's best friend) puts on his specs!!
