Recently Read

Recently Read: two books in the Ella and Olivia world of junior reader stories:

Ballet Backflip (Ella Diaries #2) by Meredith Costain and Danielle McDonald

Ella dreams of dancing, but she also wants to be taken seriously. She’s in Year 5 after all! When her dreams of being the lead in the ballet recital are dashed, she starts to wonder if it might be fun to try something new.

But when MEAN QUEEN PEACH takes up gymnastics and executes an AMAZING backflip in the playground, the school is taken over by the new craze. Will Ella backflip on her love of ballet? Can she bear to go along with Peach and her traitorous BFF Zoe?

Leap beside Ella as her secret thoughts uncover the truth about friendship and trying new things.

Best Friends Stories (Ella and Olivia #1) by Yvette Poshoglian and Danielle McDonald

Meet Ella and Olivia. Big Sister. Little Sister. Best Friends. Follow Ella and Olivia in six all-new stories as they get ready for a big talent show, have a very messy pet party, learn to ice-skate and lots more! The best adventures are the ones you have with your best friends.

Dolphin Dreaming (Ella Diaries #24) by Meredith Costain and Danielle McDonald

Warning: You are about to read my utterly biggest secrets. Can I trust you? OK then. I’m Ella, and this is my diary. Ella dreams that one day she could see a dolphin in the wild. And when she and Zoe meet Mila, Ella’s dream might come true! But their holiday at misty point isn’t all ice-creams and boogieboarding. Ella and Zoe make a terrible discovery!

Dolphin Dreaming (Ella Diaries #24) by Meredith Costain and Danielle McDonald

Summer holidays, the beach, fancy ice creams, dolphins—this instalment in the Ella Diaries series has a lot going for it. There’s a lot about the story that will have heaps of girl appeal—and there’s nothing wrong with being unashamedly into “girl things” like fancy ice creams and dolphins!

Ella and her friends are just like regular kids, which is why these “diaries” work so well.

However, Ella’s over-the-top cutesy language in her diary entries seems to be increasing as the series goes on (“mainerous ambitions”, “nodded nodderously”, “importerent”, “funnerous fun”). As I always say, I remember being silly like that at the same age, but it is becoming a bit much to read on every page!

I found the illustrations in this one particularly entertaining—kids will love them. You can have fun right alongside Ella and her friends. In fact, these were my favourite illustrations of any of the various Ella and Olivia books so far. They were the real highlight of this one.

I just know how many girls will love these. Good thing there are a gazillion of them, because I know kids won’t want to stop at one!

Rapunzel by the Brothers Grimm, Giada Francia and Francesca Rossi.

Rapunzel, Rapunzel, let down your hair! That’s what the witch says whenever she wants to climb up to the tower where she’s imprisoned the beautiful girl. But one day, someone else climbs up-and changes Rapunzel’s life forever.

Rapunzel by the Brothers Grimm, Giada Francia and Francesca Rossi.

I’ve read several other fairy tale retellings in this series, and have always appreciated them for their detailed storytelling that doesn’t stray too far from the originals—while also adding something more.

Rapunzel has plenty of angst to go with the fairy tale romance, which is a bonus for me. I liked the backstory in this version.

The artwork unites all the books in the series—all the fairy tale princesses look similar, with their different hair colours being about the only difference. I preferred the style in this one to The Little Mermaid, which was the last in the series I read. Sometimes there’s something a bit dopey about the characters’ faces that doesn’t work for me, but I didn’t have the same issues here.

Not a bad version (though I’m seeing younger people, who think Disney invented the story, pretty surprised by it!).

The Little Mermaid by H C Andersen, Giada Francia and Francesca Rossi.

When she falls in love with the prince she rescues during a storm, the Little Mermaid sells her voice to a witch for the chance to become human. But if her prince doesn’t love her back, she could lose it all . . .

The Little Mermaid by H C Andersen, Giada Francia and Francesca Rossi.

I 100% blame Disney that it’s almost impossible to find a proper version of The Little Mermaid anymore! This is a tragic story about unrequited love and sacrifice, not a Happy-Ever-After!

I do enjoy this series of fairy tale retellings for the most part, and know that each time I pick one up I’m going to get some solid writing and storytelling—a longer story than your average picture book.

There’s a consistency across the series, both in writing style and art style, which would make these a great box set for a young reader. This one, though, I’m on the fence about. It’s the Disney version and little about it resembles the proper story (odd, because Rapunzel was done closer to the original). The happy ending is wrong. Characters are wrong. The prince looks like a Hollywood character with big Hollywood teeth.

I did find the Little Mermaid’s dopey face odd. It’s an art style all the princesses have through the various retellings, but occasionally in this one she actually looked like she was drunk!

I’ve always adored this story, but this is far from my favourite version.

Wildlife Rescue (Ella Diaries #18) by Meredith Costain and Danielle McDonald

Ella’s heart is breaking! She just can’t stop thinking about the tiny BABY POSSUM that she found lost in the park. Where did the rescuer lady take the poor little thing? Will it be LONELY? What will it eat?

Her friends Ammy and Zoe don’t seem to care, but Ella is determined to find out!

Wildlife Rescue (Ella Diaries #18) by Meredith Costain and Danielle McDonald

These books (and the connected books about Ella’s sister Olivia) have so much appeal for increasingly confident young readers. The diaries are written with an energy and enthusiasm children will be drawn to—the characters sound and think and act just like they and their friends do.

The illustrations, and Ella’s insistence on recording things with exact times written on them, will appeal too. It’s like living her stories alongside her.

The friendship issues in this book are handled really well. Ella has no idea how obsessed she’s become with the wildlife shelter—at the expense of everything and everyone else. She even makes a new friend while accidentally alienating the ones she already has.

It’s such age-appropriate drama, but not told in a preachy way.

As ever, Ella’s made-up words get annoying after a while, but I remember going through a silly phase like that at her age. Importerent, soccering, giganterous, whiskerous whiskers, hurterous etc.

What I do like are Ella’s spelling mistakes where she’s crossed them out and tried again. It’s perfect for readers in the target age range.

This is one of the better books that I’ve read in these series, because the characters’ mistakes and conflicts were so easy to relate to—and for kids there’s the added bonus of the animal characters!

Dragon Catcher (Olivia’s Secret Scribbles #8) by Meredith Costain and Danielle McDonald

I have SO many super-amazing and IMPORTANT things to write about! I’ll tell you all about them: My family and I are going camping at Dragontail Creek!!! My BFF, Matilda, is also coming with us. But there are strange noises in the night. And we found some interesting tracks in the dirt!!! Could there be a dragon in our campsite??? One thing is for sure, it’s time for Matilda and I to go dragon catching! Olivia x

Dragon Catcher (Olivia’s Secret Scribbles #8) by Meredith Costain and Danielle McDonald

Written in diary form with heaps of energy and illustrations, Olivia records her life in this appealing series that comes with heaps of experiences young readers will relate to. And most Australian kids will see themselves in the family (and friends) as they go camping in the bush.

Children will no doubt want to try cooking the breakfasts the kids make in this book—especially the cookie dough “brown bears”! I’m sure they’ll also want to try some of the other things Olivia gets up to, like making a raft. The illustrations are helpful without pulling readers out of the book to “instruct” them.

I was wondering how they’d tie up the dragon theme, and I thought the ending was smart (and educational at the same time!).

I’ve read the Olivia series, the Ella series (about her older sister) and the junior spin-offs in no particular order, and there’s definitely so much kid appeal to them. I can see young girls in particular getting hooked!

Spotty Puppy (Meet Ella #1) by Rebecca McRitchie and Danielle McDonald

Ella finds a spotty puppy in the park. But who does it belong to? And what happens when it follows Ella home?

Spotty Puppy (Meet Ella #1) by Rebecca McRitchie and Danielle McDonald

It was a complete coincidence that this book was ready for me to pick up from the library the same day as The New Friend—two early readers/chapter books about Australian kids finding lost puppies at the park!

There are differences; the other book features a boy, and this one a girl, and the stories have opposite outcomes.

As with The New Friend, this one has heaps of kid appeal. Cute animal in need of help. Main child character taking charge. It’s got everything you could want from a book for this age range.

From page one, Ella’s personality shines through. There’s quite a lot of story to tell, but the author still manages original characterisation.

I liked the ending. There’s a lesson to be learnt here, but young readers won’t feel preached at.

The New Friend (Hey Jack! #6) by Sally Rippin and Stephanie Spartels

Jack has found a lost puppy! It is so cute. But can he convince his mum and dad to let him keep it?

The New Friend (Hey Jack! #6) by Sally Rippin and Stephanie Spartels

The sweet, mildly addictive spinoff series to Billie B Brown continues with Billie’s best friend having another adventure of his own. This time Billie is away, and while Jack is in a grump about it, he finds a lost puppy.

This one will appeal to kids—who doesn’t want to find a stray animal and potential new pet?!

I really enjoyed the name choice for the dog (Scraps), and the illustration of Jack imagining what it would be like to keep him.

I also adored the line: His little tail spins around like a propeller.

Jack is a sensitive boy, which really adds to the appeal of his books. And, as ever, author Sally Rippin gives the story a satisfying end.

Camp Gold Rush (Ella Diaries #22) by Meredith Costain and Danielle McDonald

Camp Gold Rush feels like a trip back in time! Ella’s class gets to wear olden-day clothes, go to olden-day school and also HUNT FOR GOLD!

Ella is sure that she and her BFFs are going to find the most giganterous nugget EVER. But what’s causing the STRANGE NOISES outside their cabin? Is there a ghostly goldminer on the loose?

This school camp is FULL of mystery!

Camp Gold Rush (Ella Diaries #22) by Meredith Costain and Danielle McDonald

I enjoy the Ella and Olivia books, and can see their huge appeal for newly independent readers. The girls in the books always have so much fun, but the situations are relatable. They’re everyday things that children will recognise – but with an added bit of adventure thrown in. In this case it’s the school camp, and a very Australian one at that.

There’s the excitement of cabins and bunk beds, and of learning about the Gold Rush and life in colonial times. There’s a mystery thrown in, and the diary format will make readers feel like they’re in on a secret, or maybe even one of the group of friends.

The language did get to me after a while, even though I know it’s quite common for kids that age to speak in silly ways. However, reading pages of made-up words like “neaterest”, “sneakerous” and “giganterous” became a bit much to read after a bit.

However, this is still a fun series.

Alice and the Airy Fairy by Margaret Clark and Emma Stuart

Mary the airy fairy is coming to stay with Alice and her family. Is she a real fairy? Or is she just a free spirit who needs Alice’s help?

Alice and the Airy Fairy by Margaret Clark and Emma Stuart

This chapter book for children 7+ was a little bit confusing, but I did get a laugh out of the twist near the end.

I liked the concept of the flaky aunt who turns up and causes mystery and drama. And I liked the long-suffering father who just wants the aunt to go so his life can get back to how it was.

However, I felt that the story didn’t make a lot of sense. There was a confusion that didn’t seem to be explained. I think young readers won’t understand what happened.

I did laugh out loud when it was revealed who really did the paintings, but then the story seemed to just end with no resolution.

There are some fun characters in this one, however, including the little sister.