**Thora
** Written and illustrated by Gillian Johnson
(A&R $14.95)
First in a new and charming series about a ten year old girl who is half human, half mermaid. Thora wears her pony-tail in a scrunchie – to disguise the blow-hole on top of her head – has scales on her legs and feet that can appear purple. And she has a pet peacock called Cosmo and a mother who is a mermaid. Other than that, she is perfectly normal.
**Dragon’s Nest – Deltora Quest 3
** By Emily Rodda
(Scholastic $14.95)
Another fast moving plot and more terrific adventures in the series that has been a mega-hit worldwide and particularly popular with the boys-who-don’t-want-to-read set. Lots of creepy monsters and some vile creations of sorcery called The Four Sisters (with poisoned breath), from one of Australia’s foremost author of children’s books.
**Old Tom Man of Mystery
** By Leigh Hobbs
(ABC Books, $25.95)
Scurrilous Old Tom is up to his naughty tricks again in this gorgeously illustrated book with the feisty feline outsmarting Angela Throgmorton. This time, mystery surrounds the case of the missing freshly baked cake. And who is that black caped figure, that Man of Mystery, who’s making a menace of himself in the neighbourhood? Could the trailing fish-head be a clue…?
**Frogs Sing Songs
** Written by Yvonne Winer and illustrated by Tony Oliver
(Scholastic $27.95; paperback version also available, $14.95)
An ode to frogs in delightful verse and some magnificent wild-life illustrations. So beautiful, if you buy this book as a Christmas gift, you’ll find it hard to give away. It’s about frogs and their songs with a gentle reminder about their fragile environment and an identification/fact guide at the end.
**Toby Jones and The Magic Cricket Almanack
** By Michael Panckridge with Brett Lee
(HarperCollins, $14.95)
Another recommended title for the boys-who-don’t-want-to-read set. Toby Jones and his mates are cricket mad. Not only that, Toby has ‘the gift’ of being able to time travel and re-visit cricket matches of the past via a magic cricket almanack. But time travel can be dangerous and Toby is confronted by an evil presence who wants him to change the past…
**Father Christmas of the Garden
** By Anton Krings
(ABC Books, $10.95)
Antoon Krings’ Funny Little Bugs books have sold six million copies in France alone. Once again, the former fashion designer with Emmanual Ungaro, applies his magical drawing skills and flamboyant sense of colour to the garden where at this time of the year, it’s Christmas. Ernie Elf receives a letter addressed to Father Christmas from Larry Louse…quelle confusion!
Related stories
Native ad body.
Native ad body.
Native ad body.
