A-Z Recommendation Z: Curious George Discovers Germs

Our book recommendation for the letter Z is... Curious George Discover Germs

by  H.A. Rey       Children’s Non-Fiction – Available as ebook 

(You will say ‘That doesn’t start with ‘Z’ – we can’t have that!’)  When the Curious George books were first written in the 1940’s, it was felt that he shouldn’t be called George, because that was the name of the current king (King George VI) and that would be a bit rude, so he was called Zozo! Of course he has 

This is part of a new ebook series about discovery (like The Magic Schoolbus books).  Poor George catches a cold and when he goes to sleep he dreams that he is inside a (human) body, learning all about what happens inside you when you have a cold. 

Various other titles are available in Picture book and ebook formats. 

A-Z Recommendation Y: Young Houdini

Our book recommendation for the letter Y is... Young Houdini : The Magicians Fire

# 1 of Young Houdini Series - By Simon Nicholson     Snr Fiction – Available in book format only 

Harry Houdini is a young shoeshine boy living on the streets of New York in 1886.  He entertains people with his amazing escapes – at the start of the story he chains himself to the train tracks and has to get loose before a train comes along!   

Harry has two good friends Billie, a young orphaned girl, and Artie, a very rich boy who is ignored by his father, and they perform tricks and stunts on the streets.  Harry’s friends help him to collect up the money that is thrown to him for his daring acts. 

One day their good friend Herbie, who is an old magician who is a regular performer at the neighbourhood theatre, disappears in a puff of purple smoke after his performance and they set out to find out what has happened! 

This series is loosely based on the life of the famous escapologist Harry Houdini, who lived in the USA from 1874-1926.  If you research the life of Harry Houdini you will find that he made his living doing extremely dangerous stunts/illusions.  If you would like to find out more about the life and times of Houdini, you could check out a Children’s Non-Fiction title ‘Escape : the story of the great Houdini’ CNF 793.8 HOU. 

A-Z Recommendation X: Xander's Panda Party

Our book recommendation for the letter X is... Xander's Panda Party

Linda Sue Park - Picture Book – available in book format only 

It’s pretty tricky when you get down to this end of the alphabet and you’re looking for a book for the letter ‘X’– I’ve had to go for a picture book this time! 

Xander lives at the zoo.  He decides to have a party, a panda party!  Of course, pandas are pretty rare so he would be the only one at the party.  What can he do?  He’s a bear, so he could invite all the bears! Perfect, except that of course Koala isn’t actually a bear!   

What is Xander going to do, who can he invite?  At last Xander works out who can come, but what is inside that big crate that’s just arrived?  Is it from China? 

A-Z Recommendation W: Withering by Sea

Our book recommendation for the letter W is... Withering by Sea

by Judith Rossell  - Stella Montgomery series  #1 

Snr fiction – Available as book and ebook 

11 year old orphan Stella Montgomery lives in the gloomy old Hotel Majestic, which sits above the equally gloomy seaside town of Withering-by-Sea.  Stella lives there with a trio of terrible aunts, Condolence, Temperance and Deliverance.  As was typical in Victorian times, young girls were supposed to learn languages, painting, embroidery and how to become a proper young lady. 

Stella’s most treasured possession is an ancient atlas she discovered in a rubbish pile one day, and she spends a lot of time dreaming about the places she would like to go.  One day while she is dreaming her time away in the conservatory, she sees another guest hiding something in a planter. 

This leads Stella into a mystery which takes her away from the Hotel Majestic and into a magical new world, full of danger and adventure. 

The print version of the books in this series are amazing.  Great illustrations, and really neat presentation.  Take a look when you’re next in the Library. 

Followed by #2 – Wormwood Mire and #3 -Wakestone Hall. 

A-Z Recommendation V: Vampire Hunt

Our book recommendation for the letter V is... Vampire Hunt

Twisted Journeys series # 7 Snr Fiction / Graphic  – Available in book format 

The ‘Twisted Journeys’ series is a Pick a Path series.  Written by various authors, it gives the reader the power to control how the story turns out. 

A family of Vampire Hunters has entered your castle, and they are searching for you. They are armed with the traditional vampire hunting tools of garlic, holy water, and an oak stake to plunge through your heart when they find you!  

As the star of the story, you need to make decisions as you read.  When they arrive what will you do? Will you turn yourself into a wolf and scare them, or become a vampire bat and just watch what they’re up to?  The choices you make affect how the story will proceed. 

If you enjoy ‘Choose Your Own Adventure’ stories, try some of these Twisted Journey books.  The format is a combination of a chapter book and a graphic novel. 

A-Z Recommendation U: The Unwanteds

Our book recommendation for the letter U is... The Unwanteds

Snr fiction – available in book, eBook and eAudiobook 

Book 1 in a dystopian middle-school series.  

Alexander Stowe is one of a pair or twin boys who lives in the land of Quill.  In Quill, all children take place in The Purge when they turn 13. They are separated into three groups; the Wanteds are chosen to train to become the leaders of the nation, the Necessaries are chosen to become labourers, the workers who keep things going, and the Unwanteds, who are the creative people, and are not wanted in the land and are sent to The Death Farm.  When the twins are sorted, Aaron is sent with the Wanteds, while Alex is sent with the Unwanteds.   

Alex believes he will die, because that is what they say happens to the Unwanteds, they are never seen again.  He is very afraid, as he has never been apart from his twin.  When Alex arrives at The Death Farm, he doesn’t find what he and the others expect. 

Read on to see what happens to Alex.  Does he die? What is Artime?  Will he ever see his twin brother again?   

Also by Lisa McMann 

Unwanted Quests and Going Wild.   

Available in Book, eBook and eAudiobook 

A-Z Recommendation T: Time Stoppers

Our book recommendation for the letter T is... Time Stoppers

Snr fiction – Available as book and ebook 

Annie Nobody, a twelve year old foster kid, lives in the same town as Jamie Hephaistion Alexander. While Annie doesn’t have a family to call her own, Jamie does.  He lives with his father and his ‘fiendish child-eating troll’ of a grandmother.  They are just waiting until he is old enough to eat, he must escape from them. 

One night they are rescued by a magical dwarf in a snowmobile, who transports them to the magical village of Aurora. Annie discovers that she has special gifts, she is a time stopper, and is able to control time.  The inhabitants of Aurora believe that she is there to save them from the Raiff and his monsters. 

Who do Annie and Jamie team up with to save the village?  Read on to see, and to find out why the Lawn Gnome is so important!   

Followed by ‘Quest for the Golden Arrow’ and ‘Escape from the Badlands’.