Tuesday, July 14, 2009

Book Reviews


Have you read a good book lately? Please tell us about it by commenting on this blogspot.

Monday, July 13, 2009

Young Readers Short List

These are the books that have been shortlisted in the Young Readers category of The Children's Book Council of Australia Book of the Year Awards.

Friday, July 10, 2009

Book Reveiw - Kingdom of Silk Series

There are three books in the Kingdom of Silk series by Australian author, Glenda Millard. They are The Naming of Tishkin Silk; Layla, Queen of Hearts and Perry Angels Suitcase. Over the holidays I have read all three books and thought they were wonderful!

The first in the series is The Naming of Tishkin Silk. It is a wonderful, easy to read novel about family, love, loss and home. Griffin Silk is an unusual sort of boy, from an unusual sort of family. He has a warm, loving home (called the Kingdom of Silk) that he shares with his father, grandmother and five big sisters (The Rainbow Girls). However, he is confused by the aching absence of his mother and baby sister. Where have they gone and will they be coming home again? When Griffin starts school and meets Princess Layla the answers to his questions gently start to unfold. This unique, tender novel will captivate young readers and adults alike, with its warmth, honesty and beauty.

The second book in the Kingdom of Silk series is Layla, Queen of Hearts. A friend like Layla comes along once in a lifetime, and Griffin Silk knows this with all his heart. Griffin's daddy used to say that Layla had been sent to comfort them after Tishkin went away; ‘like an arm about their shoulders, a candle in the dark or like golden syrup dumplings for the soul’. When Senior Citizen’s Day is announced at school, Layla wishes for someone special to take. It is then that the intriguing Miss Amelie comes into their life. Through their new friendship, Layla and Griffin learn the importance of memories, generosity of spirit, and of small miracles that warm the heart.

The third book in the series is one of our Book Week books for this year. It is called Perry Angel's Suitcase and once again, it is a wonderful story. It has taken Perry Angel almost seven years to find the place where he belongs. Perry arrives at the Kingdom of Silk one day on the 10.30 express, carrying only a small and shabby suitcase embossed with five golden letters. What do those letters mean? And why won t Perry let go of his case? This is a gentle and moving story about finding your place in the world.
The Naming of Tishkin Silk was short listed in the CBCA Book of the Year Awards and the for the NSW Premier's Literary Awards. Layla Queen of Hearts was short listed in the CBCA Book of the Year Awards and winner of the 2007 Queensland Premier's Literary Award.