Goblins!

Goblins! by Brian Froud & Ari Berk

"A Survival Guide And Fiasco In Four Parts"

Using a camera illegally borrowed from the basement of the Cottington Archive, Brian Froud did something remarkable. He slightly altered the valuable artefact for the purposes of photographing dairymaids in a dimly lit barn. When no dairymaids were available he took a photo regardless and inadvertently captured a blurry and obscure image. With his second photo he discovered that this indecipherable image was in reality a goblin.

Here enters Ari Berk and the Codex Goblinensis, an ancient goblin text part historical document, part phone book, part fish sandwich. With this codex and the goblin Gargle, whom these two noble and inquisitive fools have trapped in the downstairs toilet, the study and analysis of these irksome and troublemaking creatures and their disgusting and chaotic kingdom has now been made possible. However there will be consequences for this terrible knowledge.

Goblins! A nonsensical and inconsequential study into the Goblin World, containing photographs taken by Brian Froud, sketches drawn in a frenzied haste, and notes put together by Ari Berk from the Goblin Codex itself. Beware, letting these pesky little creatures into your home will only bring you trouble. A quirky and dangerous book that will either have you laughing at these creatures eccentric antics or curled up in fear at their terrorising ways.

Brian Froud - World Of Froud
Got Goblins

On sale: 21 October 2004
ISBN: 9781862056848
Recommended age: 16+
In a word: Goblins
Re-read it: yes
Recommend: yes
Star rating: five out of five
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The Colours Of Madeleine #2

THE COLOURS OF MADELEINE:
The Cracks In The Kingdom by Jaclyn Moriarty

Falling Through The Cracks!

The boy in the kingdom has a new mission. For almost a year this boy has been searching the kingdom to find his missing father, but now all that must wait. The kingdoms princess has asked for his help in locating the missing royal family, the same royal family that everyone believes is not missing, and he must go about this new mission in complete secrecy as it is believed the missing royals have been taken through the cracks into the world. The very world it is against the law to contact, the very world the boy has been writing letters to.

The girl in the world has decided that she will help the boy in the kingdom, despite the chance he may not be real, because really she has nothing better to do. But the world is a big place and even if these royals from the kingdom existed, where in the wide world would she ever find them? If by some chance a girl in the world could locate these amnesiac royals from the kingdom, she would have to find a way to convince them of who they are, of where they belong. But even if that were possible, how would she get them through a crack no bigger than a letter and back to their kingdom?

The Cracks In The Kingdom allow contact to the world. A corner of white will have unforeseen consequences for a boy in the kingdom due to illegal acts. A corner of white will bring unintended circumstances to a girl in the world due to continued belief. Both will experience setbacks and both will find strength in friendships, and together they may just find their way through the cracks. This, the second bright and adventurous story in this series, is as charismatic and colourful as the first, drawing you ever deeper into the lives of these warn and intricate characters.

Jaclyn Moriarty Webpage

Jaclyn Moriarty @ Pan Macmillan

On sale: 01 March 2014
Price (AU): $19.99
ISBN: 9781742612874
Recommended age: 13+
In a word: Cracks
Re-read it: probably
Recommend: yes
Star rating: four out of five
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Stung Book 1

STUNG:
Stung by Bethany Wiggins

Marked As A Monster, But Seemingly Unchanged!

Fiona has awoken in a place that is instantly recognizable to her, but into a world that she has never known before and in a body that she has never seen before. Her last memory is of a thirteen year old self, but now she wakes to see an almost grown woman reflected back to her in the mirror. Years have passed and Fiona has no idea what has happened to her during that time, nor what happened to the desolate world she has awoken to. But more worrying is what has happened to her twin brother, that he has changed so much, now more monster than human and focused on her demise.

The world has fallen apart and it is all because of the bees. The bees were dying and with them the crops that they pollinated, the animals that relied on those crops, and the humans who also began to starve. To save them all scientists created new bees, genetically modified bees whose stings were deadly, unfortunately to humans too. A cure to the bees was produced but with drastic side effects, those who didn't die changed. Those unaffected built a safe haven, a walled sanctuary, while monsters roamed the ruins of the city, and Fiona has awoken on the wrong side of the wall.

Stung brings the bee flu virus to the word, devastating all life and changing the world as we know it. A hard and unfamiliar world of violence and death but one where hope may yet survive and love may still blossom. Outside the wall everyone, everything is a killer, within the wall it is not much safer. As one girl fights for her survival she carries with her more than just determination and strength, she carries hope and a cure. An intriguing start to this first novel filled with the stench of sewers, the blood of violence and the expectation of romance.

Bethany Wiggins Webpage
Bethany Wiggins @ Bloomsbury Australia

On sale: 01 July 2013
Price (AU): $15.99
ISBN: 9781408840665
Recommended age: 14+
In a word: Bees
Re-read it: possibly
Recommend: probably
Star rating: three out of five
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4 Ingredients: 2

4 INGREDIENTS:
4 Ingredients 2 by Kim McCosker & Rachael Bermingham

"Over 400 Fast, Fabulous &
Flavoursome Recipes using
4 or fewer Ingredients"

Whether you are an experienced cook, amateur baker or full time home maker, there will be something among these simple and fast recipes to satisfy your hunger. As the title states all recipes use no more than 4 ingredients that can found in just about everyone's home pantry. So with a little time and very few ingredients you too can create culinary delights for you and your loved ones.

4 Ingredients 2 is overflowing with some of the easiest recipes you can find, providing delicious ideas for everyday meals, special occasions, kids parties or personal pleasure. These Includes recipes for salads, chicken, soups, cakes, smoothies and chocolates. A diverse collection of recipes that will be an asset to any kitchen, making this a perfect collection not only for individuals and parents but also for students and professionals alike.

4 Ingredients Webpage
4 Ingredients @ Simon & Schuster

On sale: 01 March 2010
Price (AU): $19.99
ISBN: 9780646491790
Recommended age: 16+
In a word: Recipes
Re-read it: yes, many times
Recommend: yes
Star rating: four out of five
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The Sleeping Beauty

The Sleeping Beauty by C S Evans

Sweet Dreams Briar-Rose!
   

The tale of the sleeping princess awoken by her handsome prince is a well known one. The precious child long sought after by a prosperous King and Queen is finally delivered to the great joy and delight of the kingdom. However disaster strikes when an offended fairy, not invited to the christening through her own reclusiveness that caused others to forget her existence, proceeds to curse the child to death on her fifteenth birthday. Luckily another fairy was able to alter the curse so that not death but sleep would befall the princess. And so a hundred years later the sleeping princess was awoken by her prince and they all lived happily ever after.

The Sleeping Beauty is a classic story for so many reasons; it is a tale of caution, to not offend powerful fairies or go wandering into locked towers. But more than this it demonstrates that you cannot run from your fears but must face the inevitable, come what may. A story that speaks to the romantic in all of us, that true love is worth waiting for, even if it takes a hundred years. Ultimately, though, it is about the curse of ignorance and the power of knowledge, for if someone had thought to tell the poor girl of her curse she might not have been so keen to use a spinning wheel. A much beloved classic here retold that should be reread.
  

On sale: 02 November 1993
ISBN: 9780679428145
Recommended age: 6+
In a word: Sleeping Beauty
Re-read it: yes
Recommend: yes
Star rating: five out of five
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