#365PictureBooks 43. Odd Duck by Cecil Castellucci, illustrated by Sara Varon

Castellucci, C., & Varon, S. (2013). Odd Duck. New York, NY: First Second.

ISBN: 9781596435575
Pages: 96
Age Level: Middle Childhood 7-12
Genre: Picture Storybook / Graphic Novel
Rating: 4 stars

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Theodora is a perfectly normal duck.  She may swim with a teacup balanced on her head and stay north when the rest of the ducks fly south for the winter, but there's nothing so odd about that.

Chad, on the other hand, is one strange bird.  He looks at the stars at night.  He swims in crazy circles instead of straight lines.  His house is a mess.  It's a good thing Chad has a normal friend like 

Theodora to set a good example for him.

With only 6 chapters this is a great graphic novel for younger readers to get into.  It is sized slightly larger than a chapter book, and smaller than a picture book, making it easy to handle.

We follow Theodora as she goes about her day, starting with a healthy exercise routine before she heads off shopping and to the library.  She always gets the same things as all the other ducks, but we can see her individuality showing through as well as the fact that she likes to be alone.  She is happy with who she is and doesn't want anything to change. 

But then one day Chad moves into the empty house next door.  He's a bit of a messy duck, and boy, can he talk ... and talk ... and talk ... and talk.  There is no way they could be friends.  They were just too different, and Chad was just plain Odd!  Theodora was just going to ignore Chad and keep to herself ... just as she preferred!  But slowly Chad begins to grow on Theodora, and before she can help herself they are friends.

Varon's illustrations are gorgeous.  They show Theodora and Chad in all their individual uniqueness.  They are done in muted and paste tones, and although the ducks are pale yellow they stand out from the background images.  The graphic novel scenes are simply done, and the speech bubbles positioned in a way that those new to Graphics can follow along and learn the layout style.  I love how there are little 'extra' bits added to the storyline, kind-of factual information about parts of the scenes you should know about.

Technically this is not a picture book, but I just had to review it.  And really Graphic Novel's are full of illustrations so in a way it is a picture book.  Actually First Second the publishers call it a hybrid picture book-graphic novel format.

A lovely tale of friendship and being a bit different from everyone else.

I got my copy of Odd Duck from the Taradale Primary School library where I work. 

Oops I couldn't find a copy at Napier Libraries.

Check out Goodreads for more reviews of Odd Duck.

#365PictureBooks 7. How to Train a Train by Jason Carter Eaton, illustrated by John Rocco

Eaton, J.C. (2013). How to Train a Train. London, UK: Walker Books.

ISBN: 9781406350784
Pages: 40
Age Level: Early Childhood 4-6 / Middle Childhood 7-10
Genre: Picture Storybook
Rating: 5 stars

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Oh My God!  I LOVE this book.  From the eye-catching cover and title, to the 'instructional' text and wicked illustrations.  If you can't buy a copy you have to at least borrow a copy to read.  Must!  Must!  Must!  Do it!  Go on - I know you want to. :-)

There are so many books out there on how to train your pet budgie, or dog, or even your dragon.  But what about those kids that don't want a conventional pet.  

"What about those who like cogs and gears more than feathers and fur?  People who prefer the call of a train whistle to the squeal of a guinea pig?  Or maybe dream of a smudge of soon on their cheek, not slobber?"

This hard bound, slightly longer than standard, picture book is a take-off of How to Train Your Dragon, or a conventional pet guide book.  Eaton tells you where you can find trains, suggestions on how to catch one, ideas for naming your train, and how to look after it.  It is told in a very convincing instructional way, as if it were a real training guide.  It's wickedly, tongue-in-cheek, funny! 

John Rocco, recipient of a 2012 Caldecott Honor award for his book Blackout, has spun his magic and illustrated this book.  His use of digitally coloured illustrations, combined with the cleverly incorporated facial features on the engines, perfectly captures the playfulness of the pet trains.

The expressions on the children's faces are just awesome.  From the narrator asking you to follow him while he shows you the best way, to the young girl casually walking down the path in front of her train, to the young boy who's train left a mess in the kitchen.  Classic!  And so true to life.

Oh, and this book is not just for boys!  Oh no!  There are no stereotypes.  Rocco includes girls in some of his illustrations, even one in a pink tutu!  He has also include children of different nationalities, making this a book to be read by anyone. 

Told in a cross between picture book and graphic novel this book is sure to be a hit.

Just in case you are worried that the author doesn't care about his reader, especially as there is an image of a young girl standing in the tracks cornering a stationary train, there is a postscript:

While the author believes that it would indeed be wonderful to track, own, and train one's very own train, he does not suggest that you make a practice of standing in the middle of train tracks.  Just as he does not suggest swimming in a train's bathtub without adult supervision, or traveling to the desert without an adequate water supply and SPF 1000 sunblock, or building a fire by yourself, or operating a train without the proper paperwork, or disobeying traffic laws, or walking across a train trestle several thousand feet up from the ground.  All of these things are extremely dangerous and should be performed only by fully trained illustrated characters. 


There is just so much to like about this book and it will meet the reading needs of so many.  Fans of How to Train Your Dragon will love it.  Kids that have, or want, a pet will love it.  Kids that love trains will love it.  Little kids will love it 'cause it's funny.  Big kids will love it 'cause the just 'get it'.  And teachers & parents will love it.  Did I mention that I LOVE this book!!!  It's  a great book to add to your collection.

Right-o, I'm off to track down my very own train.  I'm thinking a Silver Bullet would be nice.  Hope to catch you all tomorrow ... 

I got my copy of How to Train a Train from the Taradale Primary School library where I work. 

Oops I can't find this at our local library.
You can check out some other reviews for How to Train a Train on Goodreads.

Brotherhood of Thieves Bk1 The Wardens by Stuart Daly

Daly, S. (2014). Brotherhood of Thieves 1: The Wardens. Sydney, Australia: Random House.

ISBN: 9780857983275
Pages: 329
Age Level: YA 12-18
Genre: Fantasy
Rating: 5 stars


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"A brotherhood of treasure hunters.

A terrifying enemy.

Five young recruits.

The race is on."

Caspan is a thief who has lived his life on the streets.  A chance encounter while plying his trade one day leads him to being accepted into a secret order sanctioned by the King.  Together with four other recruits - Roland, Lachlan, Sara and Kilt - they learn what it is to become part of the Brotherhood.  Bonds of trust and friendship are slowly formed while they are trained in their new art.  Will they all pass the test at the end of their training, or will they fail to work as a group and fail in their first (unintended) quest?

What an epic read.  Full of action and adventure, courage, friendship and fantasy it's a great read.  I'm really looking forward to reading the rest of the series.

As an adult reading this, I can see that a lot of the storyline ideas / populations may have come from a variety of other fantasy reads.  The Four Kingdoms itself seems very much like an adaptation of England.  I'm not saying this is a bad thing, as many of our preconceived ideas & previous experiences (real & read) slip into our understanding / imagination of what we are reading.

The characters are well formed and the plot flows seamlessly.  It's not until about 1/4 of the way through the book that the fantasy aspect comes into play, and the image on the cover makes sense as it does not appear to have any relation to the title.

This is a good read for ages 10 and up that aren't quite ready for Lord of The Rings or Game of Thrones.  It's got a similar theme - underdog saves the world while trying to fight off hoards of giants, with internal conflicts that are causing treason taking place.

I got my copy of Brotherhood of Thieves 1: The Wardens from the Taradale Primary School library where I work. 

Check out other reviews of 'Brotherhood of Thieves 1: The Wardens' on Goodreads.

My Cat Likes to Hide in Boxes by Eve Sutton, illustrated by Lynley Dodd

Sutton, E., & Dodd, L. (1978). My Cat Likes to Hide in Boxes. London, UK: Picture Puffin.

ISBN: 9780140502428
Pages: 32
Age Level: Early Childhood 0-6
Genre: Picture Storybook / NZ Fiction
Rating: 5 stars

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‘Cats from many different countries may like to do all kinds of strange and exotic things, but my cat, an ordinary round-the-house cat, likes to hide in boxes’.

With simple rhymes and bright colourful illustrations, My Cat Likes to Hide in Boxes is an entertaining read for young children.  The rhymes are repeated with a new line being added to the start each time (much like The Twelve Days of Christmas) enabling children to quickly pick up on the repetition and ‘read along’ to the story. 

Lynley Dodd, a well-known New Zealand author and illustrator, depicts each cat in a soft pallet set in a bold and bright background.  The simple illustrations relate directly to the new rhyme and amusingly show each new cat in the traditional dress of their country.  The common refrain, ‘But MY cat likes to hide in boxes’, is accompanied by humorous illustrations of the cat hiding in a variety of different boxes.

My Cat Likes to Hide in Boxes is in the genre of a Picture Storybook, in that it is 32 pages long, and both the text and the illustrations tell the story.  Cat lovers and young children will love this book for the silly rhymes and the funny pictures.

English born, and moving to New Zealand in 1949, this is Eve Sutton’s only picture book, originally published in 1973, which she co-wrote with her cousin.

I got my copy of My Cat Likes to Hide in Boxes from my bookshelf. 

Check out other reviews of 'My Cat Likes to Hide in Boxes' on Goodreads.

The Rig by Joe Ducie

Ducie, J. (2013). The Rig. London, UK: Hot Key Books.

ISBN: 9781471402197
Pages: 368
Age Level: YA 12-18
Genre: Sci-Fantasy / Dystopia / Mystery / Thriller
Rating: 4 stars

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The Rig is an old oil rig, hundreds of miles from nowhere in the Arctic Ocean, which has been converted into a maximum security juvenile prison for the worst of the worst.  Surrounded by sharks and monitored around the clock, escape is impossible.

15 year-old Will Drake is a bit of an escape artist and loves a challenge.  He has escaped from every prison he has been put into.  There is no-where he can’t escape from, and he will stop at nothing to prove the warden wrong when he is transported onto the Rig.  However, not everything on the Rig is as it seems, from the reason Will has been incarcerated, to the use of the prison and how some inmates are different from the others – stronger and more aggressive!    

The Rig is a young adult, prison break story … but it’s really so much more than that.  It is science fiction, fantasy, thriller, adventure, and dystopia all rolled into one.  If you can suspend your disbelief about the futuristic vibe and harshness of the setting of this novel, which most young adults can do, then the plot and setting of this novel is realistic and believable.  It will make you question yourself, and humanity, and ask “What if?”  There are so many elements in this novel that make it a great young adult read.  


I got my copy of The Rig from my bookshelf. 

Check out other reviews of 'The Rig' on Goodreads.

Infinity Drake Bk1 The sons of Scarlatti by John McNally

McNally, J. (2014). Infinity Drake: The sons of Scarlatti. London, UK: HarperCollins. [Science Fiction]

ISBN: 9780007521593
Pages: 400
Age Level: Middle Childhood 7-12
Genre: Science-Fiction
Rating: 5 stars

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This is the first novel in an exciting new science-fiction series for readers age 9 and up.  Infinity Drake, Finn for short, is going off on holiday with his crazy mad-scientist uncle Al (mad in the ‘always coming up with amazing creations’ way, not in the ‘evil genius’ way).  Their holiday plans come unstuck when a lethal, genetically modified wasp, is released in the south east of England and Al is summoned to help the government.  A military team (Apache helicopter, personnel and gear) is going to be miniaturised to track and kill the wasp before its eggs hatch and they go on a killing spree.  The operation is sabotaged and Finn ends up shoved into the food supply container and shrunk to 9mm along with the military team.

The scientific fact and advanced technologies that this novel is based around, the action packed military scenes and the humour make for an exciting read that boys will be drawn to.  The character development and realistic settings make for an entirely believable read, and the elements of good versus evil is an age-old recipe that works time and again.  

 This is a fast-paced, edge-of-your-seat read.  It involves nano technology, crazy scientists (both kinds), military manoeuvres, teenagers who can out-smart the bad guys, lots of action and laughs, and one bad-ass grandmother that can scare anyone straight!  It is a fantastic and exciting start to a new series with a hero who is only 9mm tall. 

I got my copy of Infinity Drake: The Sons of Scarlatti from my bookshelf.

Check out other reviews of 'Infinity Drake: The sons of Scarlatti' on Goodreads.

Of Sea and Stone by Kate Ellison

Ellison, K.A. (2014). Of Sea and Stone: Secrets of Itlantis #1 [electronic resource]. Atlanta, GA: Author.

ASIN: B00I7LZV12
Pages: 260
Age Level: YA 12-18
Genre: Sci-Fantasy
Rating: 4 stars

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I received a copy of 'Of Sea and Stone' from LibraryThing to review.

This is a great new YA series from Kate Ellison set in the underwater world of Itlantis. It is well written with great character development and many twists and turns in the plot.  It is an interesting and engaging read, and I look forward to book 2. 

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Aemi is a slave in the Village of the Rocks, good at fishing and very handy with a spear. The mayor's son, Nol, is her Nemesis.  One night their village is attacked and Aemi, Nol and a number of other villagers are taken captive.  Aemi and Nol end up as indentured servants in the same household, and Aemi is planning her escape right from the start.  Friendships are formed with the master and his daughter. 

On the eve of their departure to the city of Primus (and planned escape), the city of Celustrus is attacked, supposedly, by their enemies the Dron, and Nol is not found amongst the survivors. It is up to Aemi and the master to uncover the truth behind the attack. 

Check out other reviews of 'Of Sea and Stone' on Goodreads.

Book info on my posts

I'm going to be including full bibliographic details at the start of my reviews in APA format ('cause that's what's required for my OP paper).  I'm also going to be including other information I think is relevant to viewers like the ISBN or ASIN #, book length, and intended reading age, rating (out of 5), along with an image or two whenever possible.

Reviews will be separated into four categories (at this stage): Fiction Reviews, Non-fiction Reviews, New Zealand Literature Reviews, and my #365PictureBooks challenge reviews.  Of course some of them may very well cross-contaminate :-) and a few adult books my slip in there sometimes.

Reading levels will be:

• 0-6 years: Early Childhood / Babies & Toddlers
• 7-12 years: Middle Childhood
• 12-18 years: Young Adults (YA) / Adolescence

For those of you unsure what an ISBN or AISN is:

• An ISBN is the International Standard Book Number, which is a unique commercial book identifier barcode, either 10 or 13 digits, generally printed on the back cover of a book.
• An ASIN is Amazon's Standard Identification Number, in unique blocks of 10 letters and/or numbers, that identifies the item.  I'll likely be using this number for the majority of eBooks.

Oh Yeah..... I love books in whatever format they come in, so I will be reviewing any and all kinds of books.  I love the tactility and scent of a physical book, but eBooks are so much more accessible after hours, and they don't need a suitcase of their own whenever I go on holiday like they used to.