For the children who aren't as good at reading or are a little more reluctant, the trick for parents can be to find a book that will make them want to read it but is not all froth and fairies. These three quite different books fit the bill as they are thin, the text is larger, bolder and easier to read, but this takes nothing away from the content and stories contained within the covers.
Cody's Unexpected Catch (Des Hunt). A great first chapter book adventure, with themes of conservation and consequences. The beauty of this is that it is Kiwi. Cody and Wiri go whitebaiting, but what they actually catch are redbait... and greenbait... and purplebait. What is the mystery behind the coloured whitebait and what else is happening on the beach during the holidays.
Do Not Push (Kyle Mewburn). Another first chapter book by a Kiwi author with a theme of consequences. The action could take place anywhere, but New Zealander kids will definitely be able to relate. If you found a big red button in the middle of the forest with a sign on it saying "Do Not Push", what would you do? Everyone at the Library Roadshow yesterday admitted that they would probably give it just a little push. To find out what happens next and how much of a surprise Cam gets from his having pushed the button, you have to read the book.
Against the Odds (Marjolijn Hof). Slightly more advanced and with a subject matter more serious that the first two books, this award winning first novel has been described as powerful, sad, and funny all at the same time. Kiki's father is a doctor who travels to dangerous faraway places to help, no matter how much Kiki asks him not to go. When he goes missing and after a conversation with her mother about the odds of something happening to him being small (or big), Kiki undertakes her own mission to increase the odds of her father coming home. This Dutch novel has been translated into 12 languages.
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