Five Wonderful Picture Books for Readers Aged 4-8 & Two Novels for 10-12 Year Olds

In this post I feature a number of quite varied authors, including one first time author, and some wonderful illustrators. The post includes some wonderful picture books, and two novels from Walker Books. One of the novels features Australia's infamous Bush Ranger Ben Hall.

1. "Paco The Octopus: A tale of perseverance"

Written by Holly Rampone & Illustrated by Vivien Sarkany 

What an unexpected pleasure to read this wonderful picture book from a more recent author. Holly Rampone is an acupuncturist by profession, but also a writer in her spare time. This delightful picture book is about a clever octopus in the great big oceans of the world, who is learning much about survival. Vivien Sarky adds wonderfully to the story with her delightful illustrations. So who and what is Paco?

"Paco was a curious little octopus who lived on a coral reef deep in the sea. One day he thought to himself, I wonder how big this coral reef is? Determined to find out, he began to explore."

Paco is a brave little octopus who seeks a bigger world. As one review suggests:

"Dive into this captivating underwater world, where Paco, a brave and adventurous young octopus, embarks on a journey of discovery to explore the wonders of the ocean. With the words his Mama used to say to him in mind, Paco musters up the courage to leave his home reef and face his fears - no matter how daunting."

Paco is a very inquisitive octopus who yearns to explore the deep ocean. Along the way he learns a lot about himself. Question is, will his talents whatever they may be, help him to persevere and achieve his big and varied goals.

This lovely picture book will have lots of appeal for parents who want to connect their children to books that encourage good character traits. These include being able to celebrate perseverance, the world around us, nature in all of its glory, reasoning in varied situations, adventure and determination.

Kids will love it!

2. "The Very Hungry Bear" 

Written & Illustrated by Nick Bland

Nick Bland has been writing his wonderful 'Bear' picture books for about 20 years and it seems the stories and his wonderful illustrations are timeless. Some are now being re-released and I'm glad to see it. Why should the current generation of 5-8 year olds be denied these amazing stories and of course the delightful images.

This very grumpy bear hadn't had much to eat. And he hadn't caught a single fish!

"He'd been hungry since the break of day and every fish had got away..."

 But suddenly, he had a big one on his line (that's right, he uses a rod, not his paws). And it was very heavy! But Oh no! He'd hooked a polar bear and the ice drift it was floating on. Polar bear has been catching all the fish! No wonder brown bear was getting no bites.

Then a crisis!! The iceberg is shrinking and so Polar Bear is sinking and he's far, far from his home. But brown bear had the solution and took him to his warm cave. A trip to the forest follows but Polar Bear is allergic to trees. What next?! They head away from the trees towards Polar Bear's preferred place, and they build a cozy ice igloo. But all good things end, and Brown bear needs to head back to his home.

This is a delightful story that children will love. The author Nick Bland has created a warm and satisfying story, with characters that any young reader will love. This is a great 'read aloud' book for young children.

3. 'The Very Brave Bear' by Nick Bland

Brown Bear is back, but this time he encounters a Buffalo! Nick Brand's second wonderful book about bears is all about a brave bear who meets a Water Buffalo. Wow! The big horns on the Buffalo would frighten anyone! 

Brown Bear is in the jungle on the edge of a 'Slimy Bog'  picking berries on top of a wobbly log. Now what could go wrong?! 'AHOY!' Borris the Water Buffalo' rises up from the muddy swamp. Bear falls off his wobbly log and lands with a THUD! The Buffalo with a wide grin says "I only came to ask you if you wanted to come in."

Now if you get two lads together like this when bravery is in question, they will quickly try to show just how brave they are. 

Bear is quick to say, 'If you're so brave... then follow me'. So he climbs up a VERY tall tree. Boris the Buffalo follows and says "That was easy!" "Let's roll down that hill". "Let's 'catch a porcupine' and 'wear a beard of bees'!!" But they discover they aren't always brave and so decide that 'bears and buffaloes are equally brave.'

What a delightful picture book that children aged 3-6 will love.  

4. 'Neville's Great Escape' Written & illustrated by Sean E. Avery

The name Neville is an ordinary kind of name, but this Neville is a penguin. And he is no ordinary penguin! Neville wasn't a 'follow the crowd type', he wanted new experiences and adventure. And he was brave and bold! Life was good, "until one day a killer whale ate him in just one bite". For most of us, this would have been 'THE END'! But no, not for Neville.

Being eaten (or is that dissolved?) inside a whale takes a long time. Luckily, another penguin had been eaten before him. So Neville and his new friend made themselves comfortable, and created a lounge room inside the whale, and 'of course', settled down to play cards. But then hunger set in. What to do? Neville had an idea. Get out through the blowhole! But, no they were in the stomach and blow hole was in his lungs!! What next?

Children will love this very unusual tale, with quite a twist at the end and fabulous images of characters that you can't help but love.  

5. 'You Can't Pat a Fish' Written & illustrated by Ruth Paul

This is a very funny picture book about a little girl who, like many children, would like a pet. But when she asked for a pet she had a few options in mind and none of them was a fish! Each time she looks at her fish it simply reinforces that in her view it ISN'T really a pet. "You can't play with a fish". Or "cuddle a fish". 

Now you could "snuggle a rabbit", or a cat, puppy or even a rat. But NOT a fish! Neither can your preen it like a parrot, run with it like a dog, tickle it like a turtle, kiss it like a frog or a fish!

She concludes, if it isn't wet then it's a pet! Until, one day her imagination took her to another place. She could play "peekaboo, blow bubbles, and laugh when it farted"! Suddenly, she wished she could swim like a fish, hide under water lilies like a fish, and much, much more. She now realized she had a wonderful pet fish! 

Ruth Paul is the author and illustrator of this wonderful book. She is an award-winning writer and illustrator of children’s picture books, and a New Zealand Arts Laureate (2019). Her books have been published in New Zealand, Australia, USA, Canada, the UK, China and Korea, with translations into five languages. She has twice won the Picture Book Award at the New Zealand Book Awards for Children and Young Adults. 

6. 'Bold Ben Hall: What Does it Mean to be a Hero? by Sophie Mason

A compelling historical fiction adventure, set during the Australian gold rush when daring, dangerous and bold bushrangers were both feared, and legendary. Award-winning author, Sophie Masson asks what makes a hero, or a villain?

Lily and her parents are travelling performers, and are delayed in Canowindra, just as famous bushranger Ben Hall and his gang arrive having pulled off the biggest gold robbery ever! The gang hold everyone in town hostage – but instead of threats, they hold a strange, giant three day party, and Lily is in enthralled. She writes a secret play 'Bold Ben Hall' and dreams of sending it to a famous theatre company in Sydney or Melbourne…

At the same time, in Forbes, stable boy Sam works for Sir Frederick Pottinger, Ben Hall’s nemesis, and dreams of helping Sir Fred to catch Ben Hall…When Lily and Sam meet, the two are soon at loggerheads about their heroes determined, to prove the other wrong...and to try by any means to do so!

This is a wonderful book that asks the key question "what is a hero, what is a villain? And how do we separate fact from fiction?"

Author Sophie Masson has written more than 50 novels for young people and specializes in historical fiction. Her work is published in many countries across the world. Sophie won the NSW Premier’s Literary Awards: Patricia Wrightson Prize for Children’s Literature for My Australian Story: The Hunt for Ned Kelly (2011).

7. 'The Extraordinary Misadventures of Lake and Birdy and Their Remarkable Fortitude' by Damien Leith

This interesting novel for 10-12 year olds is a "darkly comical" debut novel. Young readers who liked the "Lemony Snicket's Series of Unfortunate Events", and "Matilda and Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children", should enjoy this book.

Sisters Lake and Birdy are new arrivals at the 'Charitable Home for Poor Unfortunates Touched by Tragic Circumstances'. Now with a name like this, what could go wrong!? Will these sisters survive? The awful Miss MacGregor might be the greatest challenge.

A darkly comical, fantastic and fantastical tale from Damien Leith. It presents a very funny book with the odd exaggeration along the way.