These are new titles in series popular with new solo readers: thanks to Oxford Children’s Books for sending them for review

Marv and the Killer Plants
Alex Falase-Koya, illustrated by Paula Bowles

When Marvin and his classmates take part in a competition to design a new garden for the school grounds, he’s eager to win, and to give him some ideas his Grandad takes him to the botanical gardens. There he sees some Venus flytraps in the hothouse and makes a drawing of one. Later on he encounters one of his class friends, Eva. She has come to get some ideas for her design too. But when the competition winner is announced and it’s Eva, he wonders if she has copied his design and he later accuses her of so doing.

It’s not long before that is the least of Marv’s worries: the partly completed school garden has become a jungle thick with creeping vines and it appears that the school too, not to mention the whole town, could be overrun with writhing tendrils.

Time for Marv to don that superhero suit

Suddenly atop a thick vine, Marv spies a figure calling herself Violet Vine, a supervillain, so Marv’s side-kick robot Pixel, tells him. Moreover when a gigantic Venus flytrap shoots up out of the ground right before his eyes there’s a strong likelihood that for Marv, it’s a case of be careful what you wish for.
His first task though, is to rescue his friend, Joe, who is entangled upside down in a thick vine. With this done, he has a second rescue to attempt – this time from the mouth of the gigantic Venus flytrap. Having succeeded in task two, Marv’s work is far from finished. Assisted by his super-suit accoutrements, can he finally outsmart the wicked Violet Vine and rid the school of her killer plants?

Fast paced, fun and with a lesson about jealousy, this fifth of Marv’s challenging adventures shows him at his invincible marvellous best (almost all of the time). Paula Bowles has done a fantastic job with her dramatic illustrations.

Another favourite series continues with drama of a different kind in

Mirabelle Wants to Win
Harriet Muncaster

Mirabelle is excited to hear one morning that famous footballer, Chrissy Gold, an ex pupil of her school, is coming to watch the students play football. First though, Mirabelle et al have to learn how to play human football, which means strictly no magic. Mirabelle is extra happy when she learns that Chrissy is only half witch, just like she is.

PE teacher Miss Toadflax assembles all the pupils on the field and explains the rules and basics of the game. Then the practice session gets under way and Mirabelle quickly discovers that human football is more difficult than witchball. Could a teeny tiny touch of magic help her play well and thus impress Chrissy Gold; maybe her side could even win the all important game.

Needless to say, where Mirabelle and magic are concerned, things don’t go smoothly.

Mirabelle ends the session soaking wet but still wanting to win that glittering trophy that’s been promised. She’s even more eager, having met Chrissy, so much so that she forgets to check her kit before going onto the field for the crucial match.

By the end of what proves to be a highly eventful game, refreshments and some very sound advice, from Chrissy, our little half witch, half fairy has learned a very important lesson.

With sprinklings of mischief and a large dollop of mayhem, this latest instalment starring Isadora Moon’s cousin is as sparkling as ever and will have Mirabelle’s fans cheering from the touch sidelines.