CHILDRENS BOOKSHELF

Press, 18 October 1978, Page 8

CHILDRENS BOOKSHELF

PICTURE BOOKS Don’t forget the bacon, by P. Hutchins — Bodley Head. Some very surprising things happen when a small boy sets out for the shops and cannot remember exactly what he has to buy. A lively', colourful picture book which preschool children will find fun.

The big snowstorm, by Hans Petersen — Coward, McCann and Geoghegan. A Swedish story which describes how a country family and their animals survive a hard, wild winter. There are many delightful illustrations.

Punch’s secret, by M. Sarton — Harper and Row. Punch, the lovable parrot, is lonely. A warmhearted tale for very small children; it has an unusual and satisfying ending.

Tile monster from halfway to nowhere, by M. Velthuys — Adam and Charles Black. Although this monster breathes out fire, he is good-natured and shy. An entertaining book with very funny pictures.

YOUNG READERS Save the ponies, by G. Baxter — Methuen. lan is fascinated by big horses and his sister Angela enjoys driving the ponies, Magic and Moonshine. Both children become concerned when their uncle loses his stables and it seems he will have to sell the ponies. An enjoyable book for horse-lovers.

A book for Jodan, by M. Newfield — Atheneum. The author describes realistically the feelings of a nine-year-old girl whose parents separate. A special book which her father writes for her is reproduced at the end and it is fun to read.

Shifting sands, by R. Sutcliff — Hamish ’Hamilton. A gripping story of love and hate. Set in primitive times, it is concerned with a 12-s'ear-old girl Bluefeather, destined — or so it would appear — to marry' the tribal chief. Our street, by B. Sut-ton-Smith — Price Milburn. Here are lively, funny, and convincing episodes in the lives of some New Zealand boys. A most entertaining book which older children will enjoy too.

OLDER CHILDREN The pinballs, by R. Byars — Bodley *Head. The Pinballs are three foster children, and their problems and sufferings are described. This is a moving and warm-hearted story and it is lightened at times by touches of humour. Annerton Pit, by P. Dickinson — Gollancz. An unusual and impressive story about the adventures of two brothers. There are exciting episodes, but one of the best parts of the book is tile portrayal of 13-year-old Jake who is blind. Zia, by S. O’Dell — Houghton Mifflin. A moving tale about Zia, an Indian girl, who sets out to find her aunt who has been living on her own on an island for 18 years. (The aunt’s lonely life is told in another equally enjoyable book by O'Dell called “Island of the Blue Dolphins”). The right-hand man, by L. M. Peyton — Oxford. This thrilling story, which reveals the author’s deep knowledge of horses, concerns Ned Rowlands, the young coachman to Lord August Ironminster.