Book reviews: Great novels for kids to read while in lockdown
From early readers to young adults, here are some amazing recently-published novels to get your kids reading while in lockdown.
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Here are 20 great novels to get your kids reading during the lockdown, with something for early readers to teens.
EVIE AND POG TAKE-OFF
TANIA McCARTNEY
HARPERCOLLINS, RRP $13
The first book in a new series for early readers about the happy adventures of best friends Evie and Pog, a pug who likes to drink tea.
EDIE’S EXPERIMENTS
CHARLOTTE BARKLA
PUFFIN, RRP $15
Edie loves science but when she starts at a new school, she soon learns that making friends isn’t an exact science.
THE BESTIES
FELICE ARENA & TOM JELLETT
PUFFIN, RRP $10
Start primary kids reading with this new series by the creator of the Specky Magee books celebrating everyday fun and challenges at home, school and even the beach.
LEAGUE OF LLAMAS
ALEESAH DARLISON & SIMON GREINER
PUFFIN, RRP $10
With apologies to 007, the League of Llamas (LOL) will generate loads of LOLs as a group of secret llama agents embark on a mission to save the world, led by 0011 Phillipe Llamar and 0013 Lloyd Llamanator.
TC AND THE CURSE OF THE EXPLODING DOLL
DAVE HARTLEY & PETER BALDWIN
OMNIBUS BOOKS, RRP $10
Fallout begins when TC and his mate Lockie launch a doll into the sky. Lockie’s sister is not happy, the doll lands in a waterhole where a bunyip’s been sighted and there’s a gang to contend with.
PESTS
EMER STAMP
HODDER, RRP $15
Follow a cheeky little mouse called Stix as he emerges from behind a washing machine to join PESTS, the Peewit Educatorium for Seriously Terrible Scoundrels.
SQUIDGE DIBLEY DESTROYS EVERYTHING
MICK ELLIOTT
LOTHIAN, RRP $15
Hot on the heels of destroying the galaxy, bold and quirky Squidge Dibley is back to tackle his new class teacher, the vile Hector Hoovesly, with guts, brains, and burps.
THE HIGHLAND FALCON THIEF
M.G. LEONARD & SAM SEDGMAN
MACMILLAN, RRP $15
Climb aboard the Highland Falcon and help Harrison Beck find a jewel thief before the end of the line. A fun adventure billed as suited to fans of David Walliams.
FUNNY KID KICKS BUTT
MATT STANTON
HARPERCOLLINS, RRP $15
Get laughing as Funny Kid Max plots to get Famous Kid aka child star Spencer Daniels out of the way so he can play Captain Kickbutt in a new superhero flick.
ATTICUS VAN TASTICUS 2: THE MAP OF HALF MAPS
ANDREW DADDO & STEPHEN MICHAEL KING
PUFFIN, RRP $15
The second book in a hilarious new pirate-based series dodging disaster and chasing treasure on the high seas.
WAYSIDE SCHOOL: BENEATH THE CLOUD OF DOOM
LOUIS SACHAR & TIM HEITZ
BLOOMSBURY, RRP $15
The latest instalment in the popular Wayside School series involves a fiendishly difficult spelling bee, upside-down singing, blindfolded smelling and triple-locked paperclips.
THE 117-STOREY TREEHOUSE
ANDY GRIFFITHS & TERRY DENTON
MACMILLAN, RRP $15
What’s not to love about this award-winning Treehouse series that climbs ever higher and keeps kids with their noses stuck in a book?
HOW TO MAKE A MOVIE IN 12 DAYS
FIONA HARDY
AFFIRM PRESS, RRP $17
Hayley’s just inherited the money to buy a camera and pursue her dream of making a horror movie, but strange things start happening even before she’s called, “Action”.
BAB SHARKEY AND THE ANIMAL MUMMIES: THE PRICKLY BATTLE (BOOK 4)
ANDREW HANSEN & JESSICA ROBERTS
WALKER, RRP $15
The Unpharaoh is resurrected again – this time in the form of an evil beard in this fourth book in the wacky, funny and popular series from The Chaser’s Hansen
KEEPER OF THE LOST CITIES
SHANNON MESSENGER
SIMON & SCHUSTER, RRP $17
Join 12-year-old Telepath Sophie Foster in the action-packed series that’s soon set to hit screens as a Disney production.
ONLY MOSTLY DEVASTATED
SOPHIE GONZALES
HODDER, RRP $18
A queer reimagining of Grease for the YA market, featuring teens Ollie and Will who meet over summer then find themselves at the same school.
HAVENFALL
SARAH HOLLAND
BLOOMSBURY, RRP $17
Everless author Holland is back with a YA contemporary fantasy about the safe haven between worlds – and a girl sworn to protect it.
THE LONG DISTANCE PLAYLIST
TARA EGLINGTON
HARPERCOLLINS, RRP $20
A thoroughly modern romance, told primarily through messenger chats, Skype, email and texts as ex-best friends Taylor and Isolde reconnect after a long break due to THAT fight.
JACKPOT
NIC STONE
SIMON & SCHUSTER, RRP $17
Teenage Rico sells a winning lotto ticket that no one claims. If she can alert the winner, could it be her ticket out of her hardluck life?
NIGHTSHADE
ANTHONY HOROWITZ
WALKER, RRP $17
Horowitz’s dedicated fan base will be eagerly awaiting the 12th instalment in the Alex Rider series.
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