The Elementals: Wanzu Sets Sail
Love SSega, illustrated by Erika Meza
Little Tiger

Eight year old Wanzu lives on Sealand with his wise grandma, Jjajja. Every child on this island is linked to one of the elements: air, earth, fire, water but whereas all his friends have found their powers, Wanzu hasn’t. Then one day he notices that his grandma is worried. It’s on account of the unsettled weather and unusually high tides. Out on his raft he starts playing his harp and singing, when a dolphin appears. Mr Dolphin has a message for Wanzu’s Jjajja about the rising waters and an impending storm. The dolphin adds that Wanzu has an important role to play.

It’s not long before he finds himself leading a perilous rescue mission, travelling by sea, that takes him and his friends on a hazardous journey away from the island. They travel to such magical places as Taiaroa Heights where they meet some helpful albatrosses and Beaver Island where they learn useful things, all the while working (and sometimes singing) together to solve the problems they encounter. Can they find a way to prevent the water from rising? Will Wanzu discover his element during the adventure and if so what is it?

Teamwork is key in this unusual story and there’s an important environmental message about managing the waterways, not only for the present but also for future generations. Recommended for readers around Wanzu’s age who are taking off as solo readers.

Marty Moose: The Great Stamp-ede
Claire Powell
Walker Books

This is a very funny follow-up, or should we say chase-up to First Class Mischief starring a Postmouse and his sidekick Nibbles. On any normal day Marty would be setting off on his round but today is not a normal day. It’s the annual Fastest Feathers Race, a strictly birds only event. Little Ditch’s post office is closed. Excitement is extra high as the prize this year is a golden egg, with Betty Beaker the absolute favourite.

With a large number of Little Ditchers gathered on the sidelines, Hurricane Honk official race judge, approaches Marty in a bit of a bother. He hasn’t received the golden egg (apparently he’d gone for a quick quiff and missed the delivery. He asks Marty to retrieve the prize and get it back to the finishing line before the end of the race. ‘Panicking postbags’ thinks the mouse but agrees to go.

Off he sets with loyal Nibbles on a madcap chase that entails navigating a dangerously shaking tree – THUNK, TWACK, negotiating a foggy forest, a set to with a pair of dastardly ducks that aren’t really ducks at all but ferret bandits, hitching a ride on Tank the bull and a surprising prize for the winner.…

A ridiculous romp that races along (in places) with highly dramatic illustrations; it will have readers wriggling on their rears.