Children will love Stink and the Great Guinea Pig Express (Walker, $25, pbk), by popular author Megan McDonald, the creator of Judy Moody.
The children paint an old campervan, load it up with wiggly pigglies and take a road trip to an animal rescue centre, stopping along the way to find good homes for their charges.
Readers aged 6-8 will want to read this again and again, but parents be warned: they will also want a guinea pig of their own!
Readers aged 7-9 will hold their breaths as Anna sings for her president, and giggle when she hides from the Saturday weaving aunties who come each week to plait her hair.
The stories, accompanied by Lauren Tobias' charming illustrations, celebrate life in modern Africa while demonstrating that many childhood experiences are the same in every culture.
Author Atinuke worked as a storyteller before becoming a writer and her vivid language flows beautifully, making this a fun read-aloud.
When Luke attacks a bully, he and his parents are kidnapped by the Government Housing of Unusual Life-forms (G. H. O. U. L) squad and moved to Scream Street.
The Watsons' new neighbourhood is full of vampires, mummies and other supernatural beings, and Luke fits in just fine.
The problem is that his human parents are terrified and it is up to Luke, along with his new friends, to find a way to send his mother and father home before they are scared to death.
A great choice for readers aged 8-10, who will covet the collectable cards that come with each book.
Then Jake crosses paths with a sleazy tabloid journalist who is stalking his celebrity neighbour and will stop at nothing to get a scoop, even if it means hurting the injured whale that Jake and his friends are desperately trying to save. A fast-paced adventure that will appeal to boys aged 9-12.
- Caroline Bouffard is a Dunedin educator who works with young children.
