Have you ever wanted to be in a movie? Kip gets this chance when he meets the mysterious Mr Lazarus in Philip Caveney’s latest book, Night on Terror Island. Kip’s dad owns the Paramount Theatre, a small movie theatre that is under threat of going out of business because of the big multiplex cinemas that have popped up. Kip loves the Paramount and helps his dad out whenever he can, making the popcorn, selling candy and the tickets. Just when things are really bad and their projectionist decides to retire, the myterious Mr Lazarus appears and offers to take up the job and turn things around. Something isn’t quite right with Mr Lazarus though; he knows things he shouldn’t about Kip and his family and he can make things appear out of thin air.
As Kip gets to know Mr Lazarus he uncovers the truth about this strange man and Mr Lazarus shows Kip his secret invention. The Lazarus Enigma is a special machine that can project people into movies. Kip thinks this sounds amazing, but when you’re in a film, everything is real: real bullets, real swords, real monsters. If you don’t get out by the time the closing credits roll, you’ll be trapped in the film forever! When Kip’s sister gets transported into a horror film called Terror Island, it’s up to Kip to go into the film and get her back.
Night on Terror Island is a gripping, fast-paced story full of action, adventure, magic, hungry saber-toothed tigers and killer Neanderthals. It’s clear that Philip Caveney loves movies and the magic that they bring to children and adults. He’s perfectly captured the desire to want to be inside the world of movies. I’m a bit like Kip because I’d rather be transported into a comedy or a children’s movie, rather than a horror. My favourite thing about Night on Terror Island though has to be the character of Mr Lazarus. He’s such a mysterious character and I’m still not sure whether he is totally good or whether he is a little bit sinister. I feel like Philip didn’t quite tell us everything about Mr Lazarus, which is why I liked him so much. I’d love to read more about Kip and Mr Lazarus’s adventures in the world of the movies so hopefully Philip Caveney writes some more about them.
8.5 out of 10
The Invention of Hugo Cabret is one of my favourite books because of the way that the story is told. The ‘creator’ Brian Selznick uses a mixture of words and illustrations to tell the story. One minute you’re reading the words and the next you’re looking at the amazing illustrations to try and piece the story together. Brian has used the same storytelling technique in his new book, Wonderstruck.
Spencer Fogle is an ordinary kid who lives in the extraordinary town of Filmington. His hometown used to be called Flemington, until film and TV crews discovered its range of landscapes, from fiery volcanoes to snowy mountains and lush rainforests, and took over the town. The town’s richest resident, Jimmy Jangle, controls most of the business within Filmington and holds alot of people’s futures in his hands. When Spencer is walking home from school one day, he hears blood-curdling screams coming from one of the science labs and goes to investigate. Spencer uncovers a dark plot involving carnivorous plants, genetically modified flies and a mysterious, hidden file. However, Jimmy Jangle and his thugs are willing to do anything to keep the truth covered up.
We were first introduced to Juno and the people of Taris in Juno of Taris, what would become the first in a trilogy. I picked up Juno of Taris on a recommendation of another children’s librarian that I worked with and was blown away by the community that Fleur Beale had created. For those of you who haven’t read the first book, it’s best to start at the beginning, but one of the great things about the subsequent books in the trilogy is that you get a summary of the story so far before you start. I don’t know if this was an idea of the publisher, Random House New Zealand, or Fleur herself, but I think it’s something that all trilogies/series should have, especially when the books come out a year apart.
Douglas, the loveable bear who wants a hug is one of my favourite picture book characters. David Melling really knows how to write and illustrate for children, particularly preschoolers, and he’s created a character that every child will love. In his first picture book outing, Hugless Douglas, our bear friend just wanted a hug, but he never seemed to be able to find the right type of hug. In Don’t Worry Douglas! he’s given a special wooly hat by his dad and he goes off to show his friends. On the way out the door his dad tells him to look after it, but this is exactly what Douglas doesn’t do. His hat gets caught on a tree and slowly unravels. The other animals say “Don’t worry Douglas” and try to help him put it back together. But what will Douglas’s dad think?
Lenny the Tarantula lives at Zurlington Zoo. He’s “furry and fuzzy and hairy” and he likes to play tricks on people, especially his favourite trick, Tarantula Boo, where he jumps at people. The only thing that’s missing is a friend to share his scares with, and when a flying coconut breaks the glass on his cage, he escapes to go and find a friend. Lenny looks all over the zoo, but will he find someone who isn’t scared of him or tries to eat him?
Join the dinosaurs and follow the leader as they stomp, jump and hop their way through the jungle, the swamp and the river. Children will have fun doing the actions and making the sounds as they pretend to be dinosaurs. Those dinosaur-mad children will be able to name the different dinosaurs and can pretend they’re a T-Rex or a Triceratops.
If you’re a huge fan of Skulduggery Pleasant like me, you’ve been waiting a whole year to find out what happens next to Skulduggery Pleasant and his side-kick Valkyrie Cain. We were left wondering whether Valkyrie’s dark side would show her head and there was a feeling of impending doom. Death Bringer doesn’t disappoint and there are plenty of thrill, chills and surprises to keep you on your toes.
