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Escape from Firestone Fortress

Oct9
Escape from Firestone Fortress

Escape from Firestone Fortress

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Escape from Firestone Fortress

Rachel Jackson

Riveted Press, 2025

320pp., pbk., RRP $A18.00

9781764007122

The Grand Wizard Dawlish is intent on stealing the legendary Firestone from his neighbour Kang Thistlebraith because he “has hoarded its ancient power for long enough” and he covets the fortune it is rumoured to bring to the kingdom that holds it.

“Twix the moon and sun, afore night is done

One shall hold the Firestone, And raise the fortune of the throne.”

 And the reader, his apprentice, has been given the task of stealing it, for although the Grand Wizard might be stooped and have knobbly joints and a long white beard, he still has the power and the magic to carry out his threat of crushing you if you don’t do what we commands.  But there is more to the saying that he does not utter, but there is more to this task than just breaking into the fortress and stealing the stone. Escaping from the castle itself is hazardous because it depends on the choices you make, particularly as your decision will hatch the first dragon to live in one thousand years!  With lost dragonian texts to decipher, ancient riddles to solve and spells to be cast as you navigate the dangerous world of dragons as well as your own fledgling magic, can you form an alliance with the dragon, find the others hidden within and escape?  

This, the third in the Solve It Your Way series, written by a senior intelligence analyst who looks for clues, solves puzzles and explores options to help the good guys win the day in her everyday, daytime job has 38 unique ways to escape and a multitude of dragons to discover, combining the current literature love of fantasy quests as well as empowering the reader to be in charge of it. 

As with its predecessors, this is one for independent readers who can engage with more complex plots as they choose the pathway they will take, and then, having followed one to its conclusion,  return to investigate others. 

For decades the choose-your-own-adventure genre has fascinated readers as they engage with the author and text on a one-to-one basis, pitting their skills of analysis and interpretation against the antagonists so they are triumphant, and this is no different.  Highly engaging, the reader can spend hours going here and there, trying this and that, learning, thinking, and discovering – and all within the pages of a book that they are in charge of!  Superb. 

 

The Dangerous Pet Lover’s Guide to Dragons

Aug4
The Dangerous Pet Lover's Guide to Dragons

The Dangerous Pet Lover’s Guide to Dragons

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Dangerous Pet Lover’s Guide to Dragons

Lindsay Hirst

Alice McKinley

Bloomsbury, 2025

32pp., pbk., RRP $A16.99

9781526667137

At last – you’ve decided on the pet you want and you have chosen …a DRAGON. 

But, how do you look after such a unique creature, particularly one that is known for being sulky and difficult?  Where do you find it – they’re not usually in the local pet store?  What sort of living quarters does it need and how can you ensure it won’t disturb the neighbours? Even if you love it, how can you make it love you? 

These questions and a lot more about feeding it, playing with it, exercising it, grooming it and dealing with tricky behaviours like breathing fire are all addressed in this no-nonsense how-to, accompanied by bright, clever illustrations that make it a unique guide that is perfect for anyone wanting to offer a home to such a special beast. 

As the latest NAPLAN results are released and once again the annual media bashing of teachers begins, the always-negative headlines about how many can’t when there are so many more who can appear, accompanied by a host of experts who all think they have the silver bullet, this is a refreshing, fun read that not only captures the imagination of young readers but engages them so they begin to appreciate the joy that books, stories and reading hold and they not only see burying their nose in a book as a valid and valued activity but also as a valuable one for they can return again and again to the delight it holds.   

Hirst, as a debut author, has chosen two topics that fascinate young readers – pets and dragons – and has combined them into an hilarious story that entertains as a story should, but also gets little brains working if we ask them their suggestions before we reveal what the author has to say.  Imagine imagining how you could build an enclosure that keeps your dragon (and everyone else) safe and all the things you would have to consider.  Or, if you couldn’t get a dragon and got a unicorn or a dinosaur or something else instead, what would they require?  But firstly, what arguments and evidence would you use to persuade your parents that a dragon is the ideal pet for the family?  Should it be a regular dragon or an Asian dragon?  What’s the difference? And then there’s the ethical dilemma about whether wild things like dragons should even be kept as pets…

It doesn’t take much to think of ways to turn this story into something that is full of riches and investigations… that’s how to get kids reading and engaging with it.  Maybe even inspiring them to write and illustrate their own guide. 

Loved it. 

 

Maggie the Dragon: Chase your dreams!

May26
Maggie the Dragon: Chase your dreams!

Maggie the Dragon: Chase your dreams!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Maggie the Dragon: Chase your dreams!

Tony Armstrong

Emma Sjaan Beukers

Hachette, 2025

32pp., hbk., RRP $A24.99

9780734422187

Maggie the dragon loves flying  and even though all dragons can fly, none can do skydives and barrel rolls and loop-de-loops as well as she can.  That’s why she is seen as the best flier in the patrol and is in charge of protecting the most faraway edges of the kingdom.  If an intruder appeared she would blast them with a burst of fire and then warn the kingdom, but although she loved her job, she would have liked to take a break and see the lands she was protecting.  

Sadly, though, the last time she tried, she set a village on fire and although a small wizard called George put the fire out before the villagers were hurt, now everyone is afraid of her and so she has to stick to her lonely, faraway beat. Until the day green lightning indicates a furious storm is rolling in and she needs to warn the villagers immediately. But anxiety causes hiccups and hiccups mean she can’t control her fire – will she be able to warn the villagers in time, or will they be too afraid to listen?  Or could there be another source of help coming?

Accompanied by the brightest, boldest illustrations that catch the eye and draw the reader right into the story, along with the formatting of the text which almost has a comic-book appearance with narration in blocks, dialogue in speech bubbles and some keywords presented in graphic form, there is an intriguing juxtaposition between Maggie being a dragon, a creature viewed by most young readers as fierce and fearless, yet also having a secret yearning that she is too afraid to follow. 

This is a sequel to George the Wizard: Let your magic shine!  and like its predecessor, it addresses another issue that young readers battle with – having a dream and wanting to chase it, bit fearful of taking the first step because they are worried what others might think.  In fact, just this morning there was a post on a FB forum about a child, commonly viewed as sporty by peers and teachers, who revealed a talent for something quite different but had been wary of showing it.  And few do not know the story of Tim Daley, the British diving gold medallist who took up knitting in between dives at the COVID-affected, spectator-less  Tokyo 2020 Olympics and now has his own fashion line. 

While there are lots of stories for young children that address these sorts of social themes – being yourself, accepting others, being inclusive while celebrating diversity – the dynamic layout and colours of this series offers that “something extra” that not only sets it apart but also means it will appeal to its audience.  

Unicornia (series)

Feb20
Unicornia (series)

Unicornia (series)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Unicornia (series)

Learning to Fly

9781529519860

A Magical Birthday

9781529520002

Ana Punset

Diana Vicedo

Walker Books, 2025

128pp., pbk., RRP $A12.99

Imagine going to live in a new town, one tucked so far away at the edge of the map that most people don’t even see it, let alone know about it – a town where buses have wings not wheels, magic is mundane and the sky is full of colourful unicorns gallivanting through the clouds.  That’s Claudia’s new life because her parents have moved to open a new magic food shop, but while it might seem idyllic to some there are some hazards like learning to make potions at her new school, the Unicornia Academy of Magic,  without blowing everyone up and mastering unicorn riding in time for an assessment in two days.  Birthdays at the Enchanted Falls theme park might sound fun but things can go very wrong…

Printed on pastel pages that echo the colour of the cover and with many illustrations in the same theme, this is a new series for newly independent readers who are in love with unicorns and all the magic and fantasy they portray.  Told by Claudia, the stories echo everyday events with her two new friends Pippa and Sara but with that sprinkle of glitter dust that glams them up, although even in a place like Unicornia, reality can intrude.

With at least two more in the series coming in June 2025- The Cupcake Contest and The Dance Show – this is a series that brings together the things that young readers are familiar with like having to make new friends, start a new school, learn new things, and navigate unfamiliar situations even if that means having to face your fears, using both text and graphics to make it accessible to its intended audience and support them as they read. It’s something new to entice that next group of emerging independent readers to keep reading, as they dabble in the new realm of novels and series, and there is even a website to find more information and activities. . 

How To Draw a Dragon

Oct10
How To Draw a Dragon

How To Draw a Dragon

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

How To Draw a Dragon

Kate Talbot

Albert Street, 2024

32pp., hbk., RRP $A19.99

9781761180606

Everybody knows what a dragon looks like.
Don’t they?
Dragons have wings.
Dragons breathe fire.

Especially they breathe fire!

On the surface this is a lively conversation between a father and child as they lie on the floor together and Dad draws a dragon. But it does not look like the little one’s mental image of what a dragon should be like and so the story is carried along via their exchange as they make various versions and changes and then let their imaginations really go wild. Until a third party intervenes… 

Dragons appear in so many storybooks for young readers that each will probably have a mental image of what they look like and so a simple activity would be to have them draw their version of one before reading the story, and then compare their drawings after sharing the book. As well as starting conversations about the similarities and differences, and making comparisons of the role dragons take in the stories they have read (‘text-to-text’ for the curriculum buffs – start with There is No Dragon in this Story; search this blog for “dragon” for many more or this blog post from A Mighty Girl) there could also be those who want to compare dragons of different cultures because the children of Asian origin will likely have a different perspective from those of the child in the story, and it will be more than just its physical looks, so lots of opportunities to compare and contrast and present findings.. And then there are the offshoots like the Komodo dragon and the weedy sea-dragon both appearing in the story and blurring the image even further.

But, delve a little deeper and it opens up all sorts of possibilities like the concept of stereotypes and the validity of the judgements we make based on what we imagine someone or somebody being or doing.  Do all dragons have wings? Do they all breathe fire? Do all scientists wear white coats? Do all kings wear crowns?

It can also offer scope to investigate perception and perspective – how what we see is based on what we already know and believe.  Depending on the age of those you are working with, share The King’s Breakfast, a poem by A. A. Milne; the initial description of the giant moving down the street in Roald Dahl’s The BFG; or the first meeting between Gandalf and Bilbo Baggins in The Hobbit. Then have them draw the scene they see in their head, without reference to other illustrations, and once complete, share their images.  Why, when given exactly the same information, is every drawing so different? What did they already know/believe that influenced their pictures?  It has been my experience that this is an activity that will generate a lot of learning whether done with Year 1 or Year 6 and beyond.

Different interpretations of Bilbo Baggins meeting Gandalf

Different interpretations of Bilbo Baggins meeting Gandalf

The publisher’s blurb says this is one that is “perfect to share with children who love drawing … or having opinions.” but, using humour in the illustrations and presenting the story entirely in dialogue with each speaker identified by a particular font echoing the voice of an opinionated child who is adamant that they are right and which we can all hear, Talbot has created a story that  it has the potential to be so much more. 

 

Dragon Guest Handbook

Sep27
Dragon Guest Handbook

Dragon Guest Handbook

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Dragon Guest Handbook

Jeanette Stampone

Novia Heroanto

Wombat Books, 2024

32pp., hbk., RRP $A26.99

9781761111686

Imagine… you’re lying in bed when a dragon taps on the window.  It’s friendly and has just come for a visit, but how do you greet it, make it feel welcome and entertain it while it stays with you – particularly when you don’t understand its language and it doesn’t understand yours?

Don’t worry.  In this whimsical step-by-step guide all the protocols of greeting the dragon, introducing it to your family, taking it out in public and even the bedtime routine are set out in a logical, easy-to-follow sequence so you can be prepared for when it happens to you.  

This is an imaginative and original storyline that is ideal for helping young readers develop their concepts about print as they learn to read the pictures at the same time as the words, for while the text offers straightforward instructions such as, “Introduce your dragon to the family”, the action, often hilarious, happens in the illustrations,  carrying the whole along and compelling the reader to turn the page to see what happens next.  

Long ago, in a class faraway, I introduced my Year 3 students to persuasive writing by getting them to imagine that a dragon had landed in the playground and they had to persuade the principal that it should be allowed to stay.  How much fun would this book be if the audience were asked to think of an ordinary situation in their own day and work out the procedures and etiquette so that a dragon could manage it?  If someone doesn’t speak the same language as you, how do you communicate?  If you can’t use your voice to communicate, can you use your body?  Is there some body language that is universal?  What are some of the things we can do to make someone new feel welcome?  Does your family have special traditions or food that are shared?  Conversely, help them develop their social awareness skills by identifying the signs and signals that someone doesn’t want our company right now.

So much scope to explore, making this one suitable for more than just the very young. 

We all smile in the same language!

We all smile in the same language!

The Daredevil Princess (series)

Aug22
The Daredevil Princess (series)

The Daredevil Princess (series)

The Daredevil Princess (series)

Golden Unicorn

9781761340437

Goblin King

9781761340451

Fire Dragon

9781761340468

Grumpy Giant

9781761340475

Belinda Murrell

Rebecca Crane

Puffin, 2024

144pp., pbk., RRP $A14.99

Her Royal Highness, Crown Princess Mathilda Amalia Charlotte Adelaide Rose – known to all as Tillie except for Mr Grimm the pompous stickler-for-manners royal steward – lived a relaxed life with her parents, Queen Cordelia who ruled the queendom of Blumenfeld, King Edwin her absent-minded inventor father and Prince Oskar, her younger brother, a would-be, swashbuckling knight. 

When she discovers that the royal roses are being eaten by a sassy unicorn called Honey Blossom, they form a friendship that has seen them encounter goblins, dragons and, in the latest, a grumpy giant disturbed from his sleep helping to solve problems, soothe feelings and keep the peace while still remaining compassionate tempered with a bit of her own  feistiness and independence.

Belinda Murrell who gave a previous wave of newly independent readers the wonderful Lulu Bell series, has created a new collection for the next generation of young girls who are consolidating their skills, this time building on that recurring dream of being a princess, but being bold and brave and independent and encouraged to do so despite the presence of Mr Grimm and Miss Prim. With all the supports that these emerging readers need including short chapters, larger font, and a few strategic illustrations, this series is one that will have wide appeal, not the least because there is no long wait between episodes. 

For those who are viewing the current CBCA Book Week theme of Reading is Magic through a fantasy lens, this is an ideal introduction to that genre with its traditional fantasy characters  maybe even encouraging them to imagine themselves as Princess Tillie and create their own adventure with someone or something from the imaginary world or perhaps developing a visual glossary of them to be shared with others venturing into that realm.  Research, reading for purpose, creating information… reading is, indeed, magic.  

 

Lights Out, Little Dragon!

Jun22
Lights Out, Little Dragon!

Lights Out, Little Dragon!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Lights Out, Little Dragon!

Debra Tidball

Rae Tan

HarperCollins, 2024

32oo., hbk., RRP $A24.99

9781460763421

My little dragon is so tired, but he won’t go to sleep.

What can I do?

The theme of getting a little one to go to bed and to sleep is common in books for our youngest readers, but what sets this one apart is the role reversal of the main character and that the reader is invited to become actively involved in the story by helping the little girl to persuade Little Dragon that is is bedtime and that means settling down.  

Rather than counting sheep, Dragon wants to play with them and they’re exhausted so the reader is asked to trace a path for them to escape; they get to use their big-people’s voice to tell him to go to bed; and help out with counteracting all the strategies that Little Dragon uses – strategies that they, themselves, will be familiar with.  They help find Dragon’s lost dinosaur; blow away the loud-thought clouds that keep him awake; tickle his tummy;  groan at his antics in the bathroom; even turn the light on and off… Sometimes, trying to put a little one to bed can be exhausting.

While the child will engage with L:ittle Dragon’s antics and relate to the little girl’s situation and language because they, themselves, will have heard it before, the adult sharing the story with them will enjoy the subtle humour as they discuss what Little Dragon might try next and how the little girl might deal with it. Fun and engaging.

Dragons of Hallow (series)

Jun15
Dragons of Hallow (series)

Dragons of Hallow (series)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Dragons of Hallow (series)

Spellhound

9781761180057

Fledgewitch

9781761067365

A & U Children’s, 2024

352pp., pbk., RRP $A17.99

The first in this series begins… There are Three Great Secrets in Hallow, a country that loves secrets almost as much as it loves green jellybabies. No, I’m not going to tell you anything more about them. I am a loyal citizen of Hallow, and would never betray—
Oh, you have jellybabies?
Green ones?
Well, I suppose I could tell you a little more.
Come closer. Open your ears and your heart, and pass the green jellybabies.
I will tell you a story about an enormous magical pup, a child Queen and a very small minch-wiggin with the unfortunate title of Destroyer-of-Dragons…

And continues with a tale of “falsehoods, fortitude and friendship” about how a minch-wiggin, a Queen, and a rather large magical pup need to find the dragon that has turned their worlds upside-down-even if it means revealing all they want to keep hidden…

Two years later in Fledgewitch, life has moved on and Queen Rose is now twelve, and ruling Hallow with the Regent, Uncle Edwin and this story centres on ten-year-old Brim taken by Count Zaccar and Countess Xantha  to the School for the Prevention of Witches  because are the three Laws of Quill, carved in stone outside every town hall, and learnt by every schoolchild:
There shall be No Witches.
There shall be No Dragons.
There shall be NO SECRETS.

But Brim, despite having feathers sprouting from her elbows, and being the only one who can remember Snort, the Horned Glob, doesn’t believe she is a witch, one to be feared and outcast because of their dangerous, evil ways.

And so the story unfolds in a tale deeply rooted with themes of family, faith, loyalty and courage with engaging characters who display all those traits that we expect as they are pitted against dastardly, devious villains.  With its length, its seemingly unrelated stories  as well as the twists and turns in the plot, and the opportunity to put clues together if they are picked up, this is a series for fantasy-loving independent readers looking for something to sustain them over long winter nights, best read in order and best to read the first to establish the characters and their history and relationships – although these may not be what they seem.  

For those who want to know more about the author and how the series came to life, read this Q&A. 

 

 

Dragon Towers

Mar6
Dragon Towers

Dragon Towers

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Dragon Towers

Pip Bird

David O’Connell

Farshore, 2024

160pp., pbk., RRP $A15.99

9780008641863

Ten-year-old Theo LOVES dragons. In fact, he is obsessed by them and he knows every dragon type, has every dragon book there is and has even made his own Dragon Rider jacket. So when he gets his letter inviting him to dragon school it’s a dream come true.

At Dragon Towers every child is paired with their very own dragon best friend, and every dragon has their own special magic power, from fire-breathing to going invisible and even making slime. Theo can’t wait to find out what type of dragon he has. But when he meets his dragon Wanda she doesn’t seem to have any powers at all…

A recent query about books about dragons for a young reader obsessed with dragons revealed that this is a much sought-after topic, particularly among boys in middle primary who are perhaps imagining themselves as the hero that Theo dreams of being at the beginning of the story before he is rudely awakened by his mother. Complete with all the fantastic creatures that one would expect to encounter as well as the adventures and quests as the young students aspire to be First Riders like the famous Ada and Faust, this is one for those transitioning to longer novels but still needing some of the supports of stepping stones.

With the next episode, The Ghostly Surprise, not due until late September this could be one to give to your dragon fanatics to decide whether it is a series worth collecting for the library.  As well as feeding their interest, they will have a reason for reading.