Friday June 19, 2009
Folktales brought to life
Junior Reading Room Compiled by DAPHNE LEE
THIS new collection of Malaysian folktales is illustrated in full colour by the author herself.
Timeless Tales Of Malaysia
Author and illustrator: Tutu Dutta
Publisher: Marshall Cavendish Children, 96 pages
The stories include Princess Trailing Hair-Knot From Perlis, The Tanjung Blossom Faerie From Penang, The Kelumpang Tree Child from Perak, Sembilang Of The Rice Fields from Negeri Sembilan and The Magic Urn From Sarawak.
The tales are also given their Malay names, which might be more familiar to parents who choose to read them to their children.
The Mysterious Benedict Society And The Perilous Journey
Author: Trenton Lee Stewart
Illustrator: Diana Sudyka
THE sequel to 2007’s The Mysterious Benedict Society see the four brave children undertake a dangerous journey to save Mr Benedict, who has been kidnapped by his evil twin, and locate the herb that will cure their mentor’s narcolepsy.
This action-packed, suspenseful adventure will keep readers turning pages breathlessly, and is exciting enough to be re-read while waiting for the third book, The Mysterious Benedict Society And The Prisoner’s Dilemna, due out in hardback in October this year.
The Book of Tormod: A Templar’s Apprentice
Author: Kat Black
Publisher: Scholastic Press,288 pages
TORMOD, who lives on a farm in 14th century Scotland, despairs of ever having an exciting life until a mysterious man appears one day and asks him to deliver a secret message.
Suddenly, Tormod is in the thick of an adventure that takes him to sea and across time and space, as the assistant of a member of the Knights Templar.
This first novel of Kat Black makes a promising start to a planned series that is an energetic blend of history, fantasy and mystery.
Privilege: Beautiful Disaster
Author: Kate Brian
Publisher: Simon & Schuster Children’s Publishing, 288 pages
PRIVILEGE is a new series, a spin-off from Private which revolves around the lives of the students in Easton Academy.
The main character in Privilege is Ariana Osgood who was written out of Private when she was sentenced to two years in a mental institution for the murder of her boyfriend.
Having escaped in the first book in the Privilege series, Ariana is now back, with a new look, a new name and a new life, at Atherton-Pryce Hall, a boarding school even more exclusive than Easton Academy.
As Briana Leigh Covington, Ariana is determined to rise to the top of the food chain at Atherton-Pryce ... hopefully she won’t have to kill again to get there.
The Penderwicks On Gardam Street
Author: Jeanne Birdsall
Publisher: Knopf Books,320 pages
BEFORE she died, Mrs Penderwick told her sister that Mr Penderwick must be helped to find love again.
The Penderwick sisters, Rosalind, Jane, Skye and Batty, learn of this four years later and, imagining life with a wicked stepmother, launch their Save Daddy plan. Soon, their father is going on dates that are so dreadful that he will surely prefer to remain a widower!
Naked Mole Rat Gets Dressed
Author and illustrator:Mo Willems
Publisher: Hyperion Book,40 pages
WILBUR is a naked mole rat but unlike his friends, he loves clothes.
The colony leader is informed by the outraged naked hordes, but declares that clothing should be allowed.
Before you know it, Wilbur’s clothing business is doing a rip-roaring trade as naked mole rats start to explore the delights of being clothed!
It’s A Secret!
Author and illustrator: John Burningham
Publisher: Walker Books, 48 pages
WHERE does Marie Elaine’s pet cat, Malcolm sneak off to every night? One night the little girl finds Malcolm all dressed up. He allows her to accompany him, provided she keep their destination a secret. Across the rooftops, they go, and since Marie has become as small as Malcolm, it’s quite a perilous journey! At last they come to a party in honour of the Queen of Cats. Marie Elaine will never forget the night but she will never forget to keep it a secret either!
Dogs
Author and illustrator: Emily Gravett
Publisher: Macmillan Children’s Books, 32 pages
DOGS, dogs and more dogs, of every shape, size and breed, trot, bound, roll and leap across the pages of Emily Gravett’s latest picture book.
Big and small dogs, hairy and bald dogs, bad tempered and sentimental dogs. Each one has a personality that is unique, and a story that will charm and amuse.
Little children will love to pick their favourites, but may end up choosing them all!
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