Miss Smith Reads Again!

By Michael Garland

Year: 2006

Publisher: Puffin Books, USA

Age: 4 – 8 years

No. of Pages: 32

Book Type: Picture Book

ISBN:  978 0 14241 140 7

Here’s a fantasy adventure tale in the land of the dinosaurs.

Miss Smith has a magical Incredible Storybook where the story comes alive every time she reads a book.

This time they read Arthur Conan Doyle’s The Lost World and Miss Smith is captured by a pterodactyl .

Excerpt

As Challenger and Summerlee continued their heated debate, a huge Tyrannosaurus rex stole up behind them.

Zack’s eyes stared at the jagged fangs of the T. rex, but before Miss Smith could stop him, Zack screamed, “Look out behind you!!”

Jane and the Magician

By Martin Baynton

Year: 2000

Publisher: Walker Books, London

Age: 6- 10 years

No. of Pages: 32

Book Type: Picture Book

ISBN:  978 1 40630 528 9

Jane is as true-blue a knight as they come. She also has a dragon instead of a steed.

They are sent on a mission to find the royal magician who has gone away in a huff after a misunderstanding at the Royal Court.

Jane finds the magician but it takes some convincing to bring him back. Of course, her brave heart shines through as she goes above and beyond her call of duty.

Jane and her dragon also feature in a children's television series. 

Excerpt

“WHY?” roared the magician. “I’ve only just begun!”

Again he clapped his hands and blue lightning sprang from his fingertips. It crackled across the sky and smacked into the dragon.

Aladdin and his Magical Lamp (Usborne Young Reading)

Retold by Katie Daynes

Illustrations: Paddy Mounter 

Year: 2003

Publisher: Usborne Publishing, London

Age: 6 and above

No. of Pages: 60

Book Type: Chapter book

ISBN: 978 0 74605 770 4

Website: Usborne Young Reading

Alladin and his Magical Lamp is one among the many classics from One Thousand and One Nights, a collection of Arabian stories.

The Usborne Young Reading re-telling in easy-to-read text makes the story relevant to modern young children.

Aladdin finds a magic lamp which comes with a resident genie. The magical genie is obliged to fulfill the wishes of whoever possesses the lamp. The genie helps Aladdin become rich and marry the princess.

Of course, nothing worthwhile in life comes easy - Aladdin has to fight a wicked magician to keep the lamp and prove he is worthy.

Excerpt

The Sultan lived in a grand palace. 

On her first visit, the Sultan didn't even look at Aladdin's mother. But she went back, again and again until, finally, he spoke to her.   

Spells-a-popping Granny’s Shopping

Text: Tracey Corderoy

Illustrator: Joe Berger

Year: 2013

Publisher: Nosy Crow, London

Age: 6 and above

No. of Pages: 32

ISBN: 978 0 85763 221 0

Tracey Corderoy’s distinctive lyrical prose takes us through the shopping adventure of a little girl and her granny who's ‘different.’

At the supermarket, Granny waves her wand and biscuits dance while popcorn pops. In just a few minutes, mayhem rules. However, Granny also helps to nab a couple of crooks and soon everyone’s ready to forgive Granny for her, errr… differences. :-)

Excerpt

Now Granny magicked animals off boxes, jars and tins.

Small yappy dogs and guinea pigs and cats with Cheshire grins.