23 Apr Book Reviews: New Kids’ Series to Start (and Stick With)
Looking for books that will keep kids coming back for more? Series fiction is a brilliant way to build reading confidence and momentum — once children connect with the characters, they’re hooked. From gentle adventures and animal tales to imaginative fantasy worlds, these newer series offer something for every young reader.
The Travelling Book Shop
by Katrina Nannestad, ill. by Cheryl Orsini, pub HarperCollins ABC Imprint, p/b RRP$16.99 (per book). 7 books in the series. Ages 7+
Mim and the Frazzled Fruit Farmer is the final book in the award-winning children’s fiction series for budding book lovers, from the author of We Are Wolves.
Starting with Book One: “Mim and the Baffling Bully”, we follow Mim Cohen and her family – her Dad, brother and Flossy the cart pulling horse adventuring all over the world. Flossy, pulls the bookshop cart and just knows where to go. It’s always where they are needed and the perfect book can find a home. Mim and the Frazzled Fruit Farmer (Book 7) will be the last in the series and this time Mim and family are in Norway to help Norbert the fruit farmer stop an apple thief. Scattered throughout the story are charming line drawings used to give the pages their connection to Norway (lots of knitted hats and jumpers; moose and sweet hand written notes).
A great series to start with.
The Wilder Zoo
by Tamsin Ainslie, ill.by Max Hamilton, pub HarperCollins Angus & Robertson Imprint, p/b RRP$16.99. Ages 9+
Neeka and the Missing Key is book 1 in this 3-book series about 11-year-old Neeka who lives in a Zoo. Neeka wants to be a vet like her mum and spends her spare time helping the staff care for the animals and taking videos of interesting things especially the animals! Each book follows Neeka learning about being a vet and how to look after the animals, until something happens to throw the order of things out at the Zoo. A lost animal, a missing key and a nasty storm turns the zoo onto panic stations. Neeka and the Great Search is the last in the series.
Delicate pencil illustrations give meaning to some parts of the story, such as a cute little possum and lots of kids having fun – all part of Neeka’s day.
Andromache Between Worlds & Andromache in the Dark (Books 1 & 2)
by Gabriel Bergmoser, pub HarperCollins Angus & Robertson Imprint, p/b RRP$19.99. Ages 11+
Melbourne based, the author and playwright has written for the screen, for adults and for young adults. His Andromache series is for the tween-age group, with more complex language and interesting plots to keep young readers engaged.
Andromache Book 1 introduces 14-year-old Andromache whose father has been missing most of her life and presumed dead. A mysterious stranger reveals that Andromache’s father is not only still alive but trapped in a parallel world, so Andromache sets out to find him. It’s up to her to search various universes for him via a portal that only she can open.
Book 2 sees Andromache (at the request of a secret organisation) chasing the villain who put her father into the parallel universe originally. He has escaped from jail and she must use her special portal to the other universes to locate the villain.
Millie Mak the Maker (Books 1-3)
by Alice Pung, ills. by Sher Rill Ng, pub by HarperCollins, h/b RRP$24.99. Ages 8+.
Alice Pung is an award-winning Australian author who has found an unusual story line with Millie Mak the Maker. Millie’s two grannies have taught her to sew, and she finds that she has a wonderful talent recycling everyday materials into useful objects. Millie’s creativity and clever thinking helps her in all sorts of situations and for any creative young reader, the books provide lots of inspiration and detailed patterns for things to make, so readers can become a ‘maker’ too.
Milli Mak the Mender & Millie Mak Makes Her Mark (Final) are books 2 & 3.
There are lots of great book series for kids that encourage reading. Probably the most read would be the Harry Potter series British author J. K. Rowling.
Oceanforged (Books 1-3) The Wicked Ship; The Silent Island & The Sinking Ruins
by Amelia Mellor, pub. Affirm Press/Simon & Schuster, p/b RRP$16.99. Ages 7+.
Sam Kerr: The Complete Collection (6 books boxed together)
by Fiona Harris & Sam Kerr, ills. Aki Fukuoka, pub. by Affirm Press/Simon & Schuster, p/b RRP$59.99. Ages 7-12
Each book is part of Sam Kerr: Kicking Goals series.
Parents and teachers looking for Education materials should have a look at publisher Simon and Schuster’s the Education Hub for inspiration.
