Tag Walker Books,

I Wonder If I’m Growing

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I Wonder If I’m Growing
illustrated by Jon Klassen
Walker Books

In his signature style, using minimal colours, Jon Klassen visualises a song from musician Raffi’s catalogue.

It begins with the lines: ‘I wonder if I’m growing / I wonder if I’m growing’ and opposite the second line we see the upper part of a child’s face as far as the top half of the eyes.

Said child then moves around the house and we’re shown a view in the mirror above the bathroom sink, then a view sitting at the dining table with a sandwich ready for eating, the consumption of which doesn’t appear to make any difference. Nor does mum’s reassurance.

Thereafter we’re shown the child smiling through a car window, again wondering but more confidently. The wondering about growing continues through bath times to bedtimes.

Indeed this wondering continually preoccupies the child until at last – hurrah! a hand is able to reach the tap in the bathroom and to wash both hands.

A simple celebration of growth from the small child narrator’s perspective and one that young children will relate to, whether or not they are familiar with the song.

Buck & Ears Pirate Detectives: Revenge of the Ghost Ship / The Ghosts of the Library

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Buck & Ears Pirate Detectives: Revenge of the Ghost Ship
Jennifer Bell, illustrated by Sarah Horne
Walker Books

Buck and his first mate, Ears, return for another adventure on the high seas, or rather, the Seventy Seas. It begins when Ears wakes Captain Buck to show him a glass bottle containing a message: could it be another case for them to solve? It’s eighty one days since their previous (only) one so far and they are running extremely short of money. Sadly though, the note has come from Buck’s parents threatening that if their treasure chest isn’t full of gold come midnight on Shalloween, they will come and show them how to get their hands on some by plunder and pillage. That means Buck and Ears have just three days to find and solve a case.

They have decided to do some serious advertising of their services when suddenly SPLAT! Onto the deck falls an alligator clad in a purple suit and he seems frozen stiff. Priscilla parrot squawks something about her aunt, Flossy by name, who is familiar with the condition the alligator has; apparently it’s called The Fright.

They discover that the alligator – Mr Gator- is holding an old compass that bears the symbol of the Flying Phantom, a ghost ship. However, Ears says this ship is merely a legend. But is this compass just a Shalloween joke or does it belong to a member of said ship?

They pay a visit to Aunt Flossy who informs Buck and Ears that Mr Gator is in fact a theatre critic, called Cecil Snapper and the only way to cure The Fright is to make the sufferer laugh. Seemingly this critic lacks any sense of humour so what can they do?
Next call is to the offices of The Daily Splash where they meet its editor. He unfortunately has no idea what will make Snapper laugh but if Buck and Ears can solve the mystery of the ghost ship, it might just get their names in the paper. Editor Fitz McJibbins has an idea and it’s one that could see Buck and Ears earning that vital gold to fill their coffers within that three day target. Can they do so?

Funny and full of crazy shenanigans both verbally and visually presented, for readers to enjoy, though I would suggest reading Buck and Ear’s first adventure before embarking on this one.

The Ghosts of the Library
Lucy Strange and Pam Smy
Walker Books

As the story opens Matilda Lockett (almost twelve years old) is struggling to keep her supernatural skills a secret as she completes her first half term at St Euthalia’s – a proper, normal school for proper normal people. It certainly doesn’t help that the ghost cat keeps on jumping onto her lap in lesson time and then interfering with her book and writing equipment. She is in the early stages of forming a friendship with Florence François who sits next to her in class while also endeavouring to stop her finding out how strange Matilda actually is.

Then Matilda finds herself helping the school librarian, Miss Quail and discovers that the library is haunted. “it’s quite a complex case’ so she tells her Aunt Evelyn and her Uncle Barnabus who is to be the school’s new teacher of dance and contemporary movement. Before long who should appear but the dreaded Professor Gorgon.

Matilda was definitely right in calling the library haunting ‘a complex case’ as one thing after another is revealed including one about Uncle Barnabus, another concerning Edgar whom, Matilda surmises has unfinished business in the library and hence the haunting. Then there’s the mystery of ‘the bear’ and where does the Royal Astronomical Society come into things?

So what is it about Edgar that is contained in a biscuit tin and will he ever open its lid and find out?

With spookiness in spades, enhanced by Pam Smy’s atmospheric illustrations, some wonderful characters and fascinating mysteries galore, this the third and final story in Lucy Strange’s splendid gothic mystery series is ideal for the long winter nights that are fast approaching. Get yourself a hot chocolate, a tin of biscuits, wrap up warm and settle down for a comfort read.

Bear and Bird: The Secret and other stories

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Bear and Bird: The Secret and other stories
Jarvis
Walker Books

Another collection of short stories – four in all – about the adorable best friends Bear and Bird who have adventures together.

The first story, The List, finds Bird upset as Bear has given all the animals nicknames except her. This prompts Bird to retaliate by writing Bear a letter containing the worst names she can think of, something she soon regrets. She tries to retrieve it but there’s a mix up with a shopping list. What will be the outcome?

Story two, The Lasagne, sees the friends at odds again, this time about lists of things they don’t like; it even goes so far as to make Bear doubt their friendship but then Bird decides there’s another dislike and it’s something they can both agree on …

Next comes The Secret and this is guaranteed to make young readers giggle as they get a view of Bear sitting on the loo, his getaway place aka Woody Wood Public Toilet; but as for his aptitude for keeping secrets, well that’s another matter completely.

The Tree takes places just after tea time and the two buddies are supposed to be playing a game of hide-and-seek and Bear is certainly well equipped but who are they hiding from and will their hiding place ever be discovered?

With comic mix-ups aplenty and wonderful watercolour scenes of the besties and some of their friends, this is an ideal book for those just starting to fly solo as readers.