SMOT’s LRC Blog

“I Am Not Sleepy and I Will Not Go to Bed” by Lauren Child is a great book for people who love to read books that are fun for the family, funny for all ages and for kids that have always wanted to stay up late.

Are you the cheeky type that doesn’t do what your big brother, sister or parents say? If you are you would slot into Lola’s place easily. She won’t do anything her big brother Charlie says and she always makes up excuses to stay up late. “I am not slightly sleepy at 6 or 7 or 8 and I am still wide awake at 9 and not at all tired at 10, 11, 12, and even perky at 13 o’clock in the morning!” she would say.  “Where are your pyjamas Lola?” says Charlie, “I don’t have any.” said Lola, “What about these ones under your pillow?” “Oh no Charlie, those belong to the dancing dogs, those are not mine!”

The illustrations are spectacular! Lauren Child is one amazing artist! She uses collage, materials, paper, real photos and much more! All her books have one unique style and that’s what makes them fun to read!

I won’t spoil it all but if you want to find out what happens next, pick up, “I AM NOT SLEEPY AND I WILL NOT GO TO BED!”

By Felicity

For our book review we are using the book “Wait! No Paint!” by Bruce Whatley who is the author and the illustrator.  The illustrator is actually a character in the story who gives it a great twist.

This book is a humorous story about three pigs who live along with seventy-three other pigs so they left home to make their own houses.

We found the story funny when the illustrator made the pigs different shades and patterns and made them feel sick and confused.  At the end of the story the wolf was going down the chimney and then a big twist happened.  Find out the rest when you read it!

We recommend this book for people aged 5 to 10 who want to read a different version of the Three Little Pigs.

By Brody and Jackson

Zapt! is written and illustrated by Terry Denton.  It is an hilarious story about a fish who tries to get the remaote control when he’s home alone.  The message of this story is DON’T LEAVE YOUR FISH HOME ALONE!!!!

Terry Denton’s illustrations are funny, water colour and bright.  His facial expressions on Gasp are great! (That means he is great at drawing faces).

You should read this book because it’s funny, has great pictures and it really makes you laugh out loud.  Anybody could read and enjoy this book.

By Carl M

“Wait! No Paint!” is written and illustrated by Bruce Whatley.In this version of a favourite story all the three little pigs want to do is move out of their crowded home. (where seventy-three other little pigs live). So they decide to move out and build their own homes. Then the wolf comes to eat them. Who spilt orange juice on the first little pig’s straw house and made it soggy? Why is there a mysterious voice the pigs keep hearing and why is the second pig turning green? A very funny story designed in a new version of the three little pigs with very enjoyable and hilarious wordplay and illustrations.

We recommend this book for ages 4-8.

By Nicholas and Sudam

Puffling, by Margret Wild and Julie Vivas, is a touching book about a small puffin growing up to be tall enough, brave enough and strong enough to go outside the burrow.This book is great for kids at primary school because it is about growing up and becoming ready to face the world. It could be good to read to siblings starting school and coming into Prep and Year 6′s moving into high school.

Julie Vivas used pastel and water colour pencils on texture paper to bring life to the pictures. The drawings in this book really shows how much love and care Pufflings parents have for Puffling.

By Alanah and Dana

Old Tom’s holiday is written by Leigh Hobbs. In the story Old Tom goes on a holiday with Angela Throgmorton.  In this book we could see Old Tom but Angela couldn’t.

I give this book 10/10 because it is full of great fun and excitement. This book is for all ages 6 to 10 years old. It’s a great book that you can laugh at with your family and it has a lot of fun in the book.

Old Tom is a very sneaky!!

By Joanna

The book “I love you, Blue Kangaroo” by Emma C. Clark is about a young girl named Lily who has love and compassion for her toy Blue Kangaroo. However, one day she betrays him by caring for her new toys and forgetting that Blue Kangaroo even exists. Later on she realises that Blue Kangaroo is the only one for her.

This story is written for young children under 7 years but once you read the book the message stays with you forever. The message is never forget the one you love! The illustrations are magnificent, they have bright colours and good texture created with water colour paint.

We would highly recommend this book. ENJOY!

By Isabella and Sophie

Horrible Harriet is a mean ferocious girl who lives up in a nest in a school roof.  Mr Boggle who is Harriet’s teacher always thinks that she is perfect at everything she does. Her classmates think she is a bully. The message is a person always has to treat people justly and fairly. We recommend this book for ages 6 and over.

Leigh Hobbs’ illustrations are well presented with water coloured paint and black pen. They are also bright and funny. We recommend this book because it teaches a lesson which is to be nice and treat people fairly.

 By Anu and Annelise 

Elmer was written and illustrated by David Mckee.  In this story there was a herd of elephants. There were fat and tall elephants, old and young elephants. Elmer was the only different elephant. Elmer didn’t have the proper elephant skin. Then Elmer put a lot of berry juice on himself so he didn’t stand out. Elmer kept all the elephants entertained and they liked him. One day it rained and the berry juice slowly dripped from Elmer’s body.

The message in this story is that t is alright to be different.

The illustrations are colorful and it is a good book because it has a lot of detail.

The age groups that would enjoy this book is Preps and older.

By Elijah and Bradley

For our book review we are using “Whacko the Chook” written by Mark Svendsen and illustrated by Ben Redlich.
The front cover of this book, catches your eye with both the title and the illustration of Whacko the Chook, and he solves his problems in a whacko way. Whacko the Chook is very lonely because he doesn’t have any friends in the farmyard. The message of the book is you should always have a friend. The book is based on lots of chickens that are very lonely and angry.

We recommend this book for people that are very WHACKO!!!!!!!!!!!!!

By Luke and Marc