Monthly Archives: January 2012

Hey Jack! -from the author of Billie B. Brown

Hey Jack! series by Sally Rippin, PB $7.95

Join Jack for lots of crazy fun adventures in the new series for boys by Sally Rippin, the author of the extremely popular Billie B. Brown books.

The illustrations are great and each story is not only funny and interesting but has a really good message.

Jack faces all the usual problems of primary school like trying to fit in and make friends. Luckily he has some great people to help him, including his best friend Billie B. Brown!

There are currently 4 books in the series with 2 more coming in May so get started with Jack today!!!

*GET A FREE YOYO WITH ANY HEY JACK! BOOK. Hurry! While stocks last!*

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Filed under First Readers (6-8 years)

Meat Free Monday: easing into vegetarianism or just having a day off meat.

Paul McCartney and his family are amongst the world’s best known vegetarians, and in 2009 they helped launch the Meat Free Monday campaign.  They recognise that not everyone wants to become a vegetarian but could consider having a meat free dinner once a week.  While the book talks about the benefits to health, the environment and the domestic budget of meat free eating  it isn’t preachy.  It offers lots of recipes and meat free suggestions and with lots of good photographs they look very tempting.  Hardback, $35

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Filed under Cookbook Reviews

The Emperor series by Conn Iggulden: Book #1 ONLY $10!

Emperor: The Gates of Rome by Conn Iggulden, PB $10.00

Get started on this fantastic historical fiction series about the life of Julius Caesar. Follow his journey from a young boy thrown into the turmoil of war to a young man quelling a Spartacus rebellion to ultimately becoming one of the greatest and most famous Romans in history.

Iggulden has a clear passion for Roman history and weaves a wonderful story full of well known characters and events while allowing readers an intimate look at their lives and insight into their decisions that changed the course of the world.

Action packed with sword fights, senate intrigue and betrayals, The Gates of Rome is a great read and at only $10.00 is well worth a try!

There are four books in the Emperor series and Iggulden has another series, that follows the life of Genghis Khan (The Conqueror series).

*The Emperor series books 2, 3 & 4 are $20.00 each.

 

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Filed under Dads' books, Fiction Reviews

Big Ideas in Little Books!

If your parents aren’t so great at explaining science concepts, you best get these little and entertaining books into your collection!  The Basher Books, by Simon Basher, cover a whole range of tricky topics and make them fun and easy to understand.  Even better, they are accompanied by awesome illustrations of naughty little Japanese-style manga characters on every page- science meets art in an ingenious collaboration.

Books in this series include:

-The Periodic Table: Elements With Style!

-Human Body: A Book With Guts!

-Physics: Why Matter Matters!

-Chemistry: Getting A Big Reaction!

-Astronomy: Out Of This World!

-Biology: Life As We Know It!

-Rocks & Minerals: A Gem Of A Book!

-Planet Earth: What Planet Are You On?

The language in the books are simple but descriptive, with the author using modern and common-day events to compare to the scientific concepts in question.  If only teachers could make science so easy to understand!

At only $15 each, these books are a steal!

In store now!

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Filed under Junior Readers (8-11 years), Uncategorized

2012 Diaries: Now 40% off

We still have a few 2012 diaries and it’s time for them to go.  So all remaining stock of diaries is 40% off!!  We have the Foodies Diary, The French Country Diary, Jukurrpa and a few more.  Hurry, they won’t last.

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Filed under Gift Ideas

Don’t Call me Ishmael: not so new but a good one

For some years I’ve been aware of the Ishmael books by Michael Gerard Bauer and have had people whose opinion I respect tell me how good they are.  I’ve finally read the first book, Don’t Call Me Ishmael and it is now on our recommended shelves for teens.  It’s terrific.

Ishmael is 14 years old and his unusual name has become the bane of his existence.  His father insists on telling anyone who makes a comment on the name the ‘hilarious’ circumstances which led to his newborn son being given that particular moniker.  The boys at Ishmael’s new school don’t find it amusing though, in fact it causes him a great deal of grief from the school bully, Barry Bagsley.  An alliance forms between Ishmael and the other ‘unusual’ boy, James Scobie.

What I really like about this book, apart from the fact that is well written, funny and believable is that everything isn’t neatly tied up by the end.  The bully is still a bully and Ishmael ends the school year knowing that Barry will still be the same next year, but he  is learning to deal with it and knows that he doesn’t want to be cruel like Barry, even when the opportunity arises.

Don’t Call Me Ishmael is the first of three books, and they are terrific for boys and girls aged 12 and up. Highly recommended.  $20

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Filed under Top Ten, Tweens (11-14 years), Uncategorized, Young Adult (14+)

Jane Austen: A celebration of her life & work

Jane Austen: A celebration of her life & work by Lauren Nixon, HB $35.00

 

Any Austen fan will appreciate this beautiful new hardback about her life & work. Filled with gorgeous colour illustrations, paintings, photos and letters this books covers every aspect of Austen.

There are specific sections dedicated to her most famous novels such as Pride & Prejudice, Persuasion and Sense & Sensibility. Her influence throughout history is examined and the modern films and spin off books are incorporated.

Enjoy getting a true insight into one of the most incredible authors in history. It has been 200 years since Sense & Sensibility was first published but still Jane Austen has a place in our hearts and minds.

 

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Filed under Gift Ideas, Mums' books, Non-fiction Reviews

The Adventures of Nanny Piggins #1 ONLY $5.00!

Book 1# of the Adventures of Nanny Piggins by R.A Spratt only $5.00! 

Take this opportunity to get into the magical series of Nanny Piggins with this great special offer for book #1.

Join the incredible and entertaining Miss Piggins as she becomes a Nanny to Derrick, Samantha & Michael. She used to be a flying pig in the circus so her previous work experience includes flying out of a cannon and making a brilliant chocolate cake! Who wouldn’t want that kind of Nanny???

This series of books is truly delightful for both boys and girls in primary school. Nanny Piggins is hilarious, quirky and loveable.

Well worth a read but hurry, the bargain price for book #1 is only while stocks last!!!!

 

***Join Nanny Piggins for more adventures with books 2-6, PB $15.95 each…

 

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Filed under Junior Readers (8-11 years), Tweens (11-14 years)

Australian Women Writers 2012 Challenge

This year I am taking the Australian Women Writers 2012 Challenge.  I am going in as a dabbler meaning I will be reading in more than one genre, and at the Franklin-Fantastic level which means reading 10 books.  The aim is to raise the profile and level of reviewing books written by Australian women.  I’m working on the list of books I’m going to read and review on this blog and I’m also going to be catching up with some classics that I’ve somehow missed reading.  All in all, lots of books and lots of reading  coming up.  I’ve already started, and my first book written by an Australian women to be reviewed is Kirsten Tranter’s A common loss.  My first classic for the year was Frankenstein.  More on both later. I’m looking forward to it

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Filed under Events

Austraian Women Writers 2012 Challenge

This year I am taking the Australian Women Writers 2012 Challenge.  I am going in as a dabbler meaning I will be reading in more than one genre, and at the Franklin-Fantastic level which means reading 10 books.  The aim is to raise the profile and level of reviewing books written by Australian women.  I’m working on the list of books I’m going to read and review on this blog and I’m also going to be catching up with some classics that I’ve somehow missed reading.  All in all, lots of books, and lots of reading  coming up.  I’ve already started, and my first book written by an Australian women to be reviewed is Kirsten Tranter’s A common loss.  My first classic for the year was Frankenstein.  More on both later. I’m looking forward to it

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Filed under Uncategorized