Books for Readers Whose Confidence is Growing
These stories are for readers with more stamina. They can go longer distances without pictures. There are still pictures though. Why not? Pictures are entertaining. Even grown-ups like pictures.THE JESSAME STORIES
Six stories of approximately 2,500 words each, illustrated by Duncan Smith. Jessame lives in Bethnal Green with her mum, baby brother, Grandma and Grandpa Williams and Jacko the parrot. She's a lively, imaginative little girl who has lots of adventures. When Aunt Gbee from Africa comes to stay she brings more surprises.
Andersen Press ISBN 1 84270 454 0
JESSAME TO THE RESCUE AND OTHER STORIES
Six more stories about the irrepressible Jessame. She visits the Cutty Sark, rescues her little brother and dances the special Ashobee dance at a wedding.
Andersen Press 9781842708309
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TOOTH FAIRY IN TROUBLE
When Tooth Fairy can't get round to all the children to collect their teeth Fairy Queen is angry. But what can Tooth Fairy do? She's already in trouble with the other fairies who say the tooth dump is dangerously high. Then a horrid boy catches her. Has Tooth Fairy got enough magic left to escape and teach him a lesson? Luckily there are some kind and clever children who help her.
King Fisher-Macmillan.
I have to admit all the books above look very girly, but I do know some boys who enjoy them. Tooth Fairy is not a soppy fairy who sits around combing her hair all day and Jessame is a very feisty girl. Her friend Jason loves playing with her because she has such good ideas.
My next book in this section looks much more boy-friendly and it is, but adventurous girls will like it too.
STOWAWAY
Set in Tudor times, it's about a boy who stows away with the famous sailor, Francis Drake. The illustrations, by Mike Oldroyd are all in full colour, and are so dramatic!
Collins commissioned me to write a story about the Golden Hinde. I'd already written about Francis Drake's voyage round the world before - in "The Time Travelling Cat and the Tudor Treasure" so I didn't have to do a lot of research. But to refresh my memory I revisited the replica of the Golden Hinde, moored at Horseshoe Wharf on the Thames. What a brill day out that was! If you'd like to visit it get info from the website www.goldenhinde.co.uk/ You'll have fun!
Here I am on the deck wondering if I'd be brave enough to go to sea in such a tiny craft. The answer - I'm afraid I wouldn't. Afraid is the word. It must have been terrifying.
The book, called "Stowaway!" is published in Collins ' Big Cat series.
Also note that CONVICT has been re-printed, as one of three stories in a super value bumper edition, called NOT SO NICE VICTORIANS.
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CONVICT
(3,000 words inc. historical notes and lots of pictures by Liz Minichiello) Mary Catchpole borrows a horse to fetch the doctor to a neighbour. Then she's accused of stealing and put in prison to await trial. Will she be found guilty? In Victorian times punishments were severe even for children. Watts
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 Watts ISBN 0 7496 6316 2 |
These titles are out of print, but you may still find them in libraries and classrooms.
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THE SEWER SLEUTH (3,000 words inc. historical notes and lots
of pictures)
The cholera epidemic of 1854 is raging. Nobody knows how to stop it. Then Tom Cracknell, an orphan boy turns detective. He helps Doctor John Snow, Queen Victoria's physician to find the cause of the deadly disease. Watts
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THE JESSAME STORIES
(6 stories of 2,500 words each illustrated by Duncan Smith) Jessame lives in Bethnal Green with her mum, baby brother, Grandma and Grandpa Williams and Jacko the parrot. She's a lively, imaginative little girl who has lots of adventures. When Aunt Gbee from Africa comes to stay she brings more surprises. Mammoth
Also on tape, recorded by Cover to Cover!
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| MORE JESSAME STORIES
( 6 stories of 2,500 words each and more pictures by Duncan Smith) "More Jessame Stories" gets a 5 star review in "Books for Keeps" They said (No 110 May 1998): ".. this book is really delightful in a literal sense" " Julia Jarman's writing conveys a vivid sense of life freshly experienced; she has an acute ear for the felicities of children's speech and for the way in which a young imagination can transform a walk to the shops into a phantasmagoria of imaginings. The book is both tender and celebratory of the splendid diversity of everyday life and people, and expresses a warmhearted appreciation of London, particularly the bits that are seldom commemorated in literature" Mammoth
Also available on tape, recorded by Cover to Cover! |
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THE HAUNTING OF NADIA
(4,500 words ,lots of pictures and speech bubbles from Michael Charlton) Nadia thinks Jenny Greenteeth the water witch is an old wives' tale, a joke. Then she sees the hag's face in the village pond, sees her flipper hand beckoning. Why does Jenny Greenteeth want her? Can Nadia resist? A psychological thriller about jealousy and obsession. Not as easy as it looks, NOT for very young readers! Puffin
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