Children's Book Review: The 13th Horseman by Barry Hutchison

I was lucky enough to win a copy of this book and while I had every intention of reading this with my 10year old daughter, she loved the first chapter so much that she barreled along without me.

The following thoughts are hers alone, I've just typed it up for her :)

Title: The 13th Horseman (Afterworlds #1)

Author: Barry Hutchison
Release Date: March 1st 2012
Publisher: HarperCollinsChildren'sBooks

In a darkly funny, action-packed adventure, fourteen year old Drake is surprised to discover the Horsemen of the Apocalypse hanging out in his garden shed. He’s even more surprised when they ask him to join them. The team is missing a Horseman, having gone through several Deaths, and they think Drake is the boy for the job.

Miss 10's Thoughts

I really enjoyed the book, and all the characters are pretty cool too.

My favorite character is Famine because all he ever did was eat food and he was really funny.

The story is interesting and has a bit of mystery to it, and has lots of funny bits.

One of my favorite scenes was at the end when Famine was on the ground and War said "Hey look at that cake over there"
Then Famine sat straight up demanding "Where?" and War pulled a muffin out of his pocket, it was funny.
War was a great character too, I liked that he kept teasing Drake all the time.

I would definitely read more books from this author because I really loved The 13th Horseman a lot.

I rate this book 4.5 Stars out of 5 :)

Childrens Book Review: Grandma Bendy by Izy Penguin

Title: Grandma Bendy
Author: Izy Penguin
Illustrator: Izy Penguin
Release Date: May 2012
Publisher: Maverick Arts Publishing Ltd
Source: received from PR company for the purpose of an honest review

A quirky story about a bendy burglar, who learns the error of her ways.
Grandma Bendy is the bendiest grandma. She has twizzly arms and super stretchy legs!

In the past Grandma Bendy used her skills for bad and was an excellent burglar. However a taste of her own medicine sets her on the straight and narrow!

My Thoughts

I had fun reading this with my Miss 5. She had me in stitch's as she tried to stretch and twist her body like a pretzel in an attempt to show me how she was just like Grandma Bendy!

Here's what Miss 5 had to say about the book:

"Its funny but bad. Stealing is bad"

"The Grandma is like elastic and that's not good, my Grandma's not elastic!"

Whilst twisting her body on the floor: "See I can do it! But I'm not a stealer!"

"Its (the story) really, really good" 

A neat little story with a lesson in morals and responsibility, Grandma Bendy gets 5 Stars from us ~<;]

Grandma Bendy is written and illustrated by first time author Izy Penguin.

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Childrens Book Review: The Jelly That Wouldn't Wobble by Angela Mitchell

Title: The Jelly That Wouldn't Wobble

Author: Angela Mitchell

Illustrator: Sarah Horne

Release Date: May 1st 2012

Publisher: Maverick Arts Publishing Ltd

Source: Received from PR company for the purpose of an honest review.

The Jelly That Wouldn’t Wobble is a fantastic new book by debut author, Angela Mitchell and illustrated by Sarah Horne.

It is Princess Lolly’s 89th birthday party and a glorious jelly is on the menu. However there is a problem: the jelly refuses to wobble!

“I won’t wobble, I won’t wobble and that’s my final word!” screamed the jelly…

My Thoughts

This was a very funny story to read with my Miss 5, and she stopped time and again to have a good look at the illustrations, which she really liked.

Some of her comments about the book were :

"Oohh what an angry princess, she's princess grumpy pants!"

"That's a cool story. I like the mad jelly, the jelly was bad."

"Good pictures, mad bad pictures."

Its safe to say that my Miss 5 really enjoyed this story, and I definitely enjoyed reading it with her.

She did however wonder why the princess was so old!
Apparently - well in the mind of my 5 year old - "Only little girls and pretty ladies can be princesses, old princesses should be queens!"

A great story with witty text and fun illustrations, Miss 5 and I both agree that The Jelly That Wouldn't Wobble is a 5 Star read ~<;]

Special Guest Book Reviewers: The Fearsome Beastie by Giles Paley-Phillips

Title: The Fearsome Beastie

Author: Giles Paley-Phillips

Illustrator: Gabriele Antonini

Release Date: May 31st 2011

Publisher: Maverick Arts Publishing 

Source: Received from the author for an honest review 

The fearsome beastie is searching for something to eat and the children are at the top of the menu.

Will they be fooled by the fearsome beastie and his clever tricks?

Thoughts

So I have two very special guest reviewers for this book today. 

As it is a children's picture book, my two youngest daughters and I have sat down to read this book together and we will each give our own review.

Miss 9

It was good and I liked the rhyming.

The pictures are nice. They are clear and bright.

It was funny, but I wouldn't eat beastie stew!!!

Miss 4

That was a scary one!

I liked it. It has nice pictures.

Its scary ay Mummy?!

Read it again!! 

Me

I absolutely loved this book.

It is a beautifully rhyming, colorfully illustrated, totally gorgeous little read. 

It really is a book I could happily read over and over, in fact, we already have!!

And I love seeing the shocked look on the face of my 4 year old every time.

This book is a thoroughly enjoyable read for the whole family.

With just the right amount of scare and surprise and some laughs thrown in too I would highly recommend this book to everyone. 

A definite 5 Star read.