Pete the Sheep - reviewed by Ben

Pete the Sheep by Jackie French

Illustrated by Bruce Whatley

Reviewed by Ben (age 7)

The book is about a Shearer who has a sheep-sheep instead of a sheep dog. The Shearer was shearing sheep but the other shearers didn't like how he had a sheep-sheep. So he left and made a sheep salon. The sheep liked going there and soon the other shearers had no sheep left to shear. All the sheep dogs wanted new haircuts and went to the salon too. The other shearers then came to work at the salon and everyone was happy.

I like the book. I like the pictures because they are colourful drawings.

Mum's comments

I love this book which is a good thing because I have been asked to read it to one of my other boys every night for 3 months straight. I love the Australian humour in the book and the Aussie slang, not many books use words like 'strewth' or 'jumping jumbucks', which is a shame really. This is a great book to read at bedtime to finish the day with a smile.

Simpson and his Donkey - Reviewed by Tom

Simpson and his Donkey by Mark Greenwood and Frane Lessac

Reviewed by Tom (age 9)

The book is about a man named Jack Simpson, who went to war. He was hoping to return to England but instead he goes to Egypt to train with the army. They then get sent to Gallipoli where he was stretcher bearer helping the people in the war who got injured. He finds a donkey to help him with carrying the injured. He named the donkey, Duffy. They did lots of trips up and down the hills. Jack was very brave to help the people when there were so many bullets. They would take water up the hill and bring back injured soldiers. Jack gets shot and he dies. He was buried and everyone was sad. He rescued over 300 men including his old friend from home.
The pictures made it look like the past because it showed horses and carts. I think it would be scary to go to war. The book showed what it was like to go to war.
I rate it 7.5/10

Mum's comments
I always struggle to read this book out loud without getting a lump in my throat. It is a lovely picture book to help children understand events such as ANZAC Day. It isn't gruesome but gives enough details of the hardships, for children to understand that war is not pleasant. I remember hearing of the story of Jack Simpson and his donkey when I was at primary school but have not heard anyone speak of it since. This picture book is a lovely way to teach the next generation about it.

The 26 Storey Treehouse - reviewed by Tom

The 26 Storey Treehouse by Andy Griffiths

Illustrated by Terry Denton

Reviewed by Tom (age 9)

This book is about three people name Andy, Terry and Jill who all have a very weird story about how they met and got stuck on Captain Woodenhead's pirate ship. They all escape. Andy and Terry now live in a 26 storey tree house. Jill lives in a cottage with lots of animals. Captain Woodenhead gets shipwrecked again and tries to take over the tree house. But he fails due to a weird nursery rhyme that comes true and because of a flying fish head. Most of the tree house looks really weird and funny. I liked the ice-cream parlour and all the different flavours.

The book was very funny and silly and I really like the pictures and the weird nursery rhyme about the pirates. I would read this book again and I really want to read the first book, The 13 storey treehouse. I think other boys and girls my age would like this book. I found some of the words hard to read but I was able to read most of it without help.

I rate it 8.5/10

Mum's comment

This was a great chapter book for my boys. They were laughing all the way through the book and always making comments about the silly things that were happening. Tom and I took turns reading the book, usually a chapter each night. More confident readers will be able to read this book alone without difficulty but Tom needed assistance pronouncing some of the words. He didn't get frustrated though as he was so busy laughing at the silly antics of the characters. 

We haven't read the first book, The 13-Storey Treehouse, but it wasn't necessary to understand and enjoy this book. Ben and Tom have loved the book so much that they have requested that I buy the first book. They are also excited to learn that a third book, The 39-Storey Treehouse, is out in September. Ben informed me that September is his birthday month so I think that he is expecting the book in his present stash. It makes me proud as a book lover to hear my boys get excited about books. Parenting - I am doing it right.