Review of Katt vs. Dogg – James Patterson & Chris Grabenstein

Review of Katt vs. Dogg – James PattersonThe most famous enemies in the animal kingdom finally meet face-to-face… and the fur is about to fly!

Oscar is a rowdy pooch who loves everybody – except katts! His family of down-to-earth doggs enjoys giving those snooty katts a hard time.

Molly is a pretty kitty who’s destined for fame and fortune as an actress. Her family of well-bred katts thinks all doggs are dirty and disgusting!

But while on family camping trips, Molly and Oscar get hopelessly lost in the dangerous woods. The only way for them to survive is for the mortal enemies to work together…

Yeah, not gonna happen!

Katt vs. Dogg

James Patterson & Chris Grabenstein

Arrow

Supplied by Penguin Random House New Zealand

Reviewed by Maree Pavletich

Katts believe dogs are dirty and disgusting.

Doggs believe Katts are snooty and only good for chasing

Sworn enemies.

But when two youngsters; Oscar the dogg and Molly the katt, get lost in the woods, they find sworn enemies have to team up to survive and by doing that they may, just may, change their world. But first they have to get past years of being told they shouldn’t even look at each other let alone talk or help each other!

I found this on the simplistic read side but younger readers will love it.

Review of Te Ika a Maui / the Fish of Maui – Peter Gossage, translated by Merimeri Penfold

        Peter Gossage’s famous Maori myth about discovering Aotearoa’s North Island is now a bilingual Maori-English edition, featuring Merimeri Penfold’s translation.

Kahore nga tuakana o Maui i hiahia kia haere ia i to ratou taha ki te hi, he hae no ratou. Heoi ano, ka mau i a Maui atamai te ika whakamiharo katoa.

He putanga reo Maori–reo Pakeha o tenei tino pakiwaitara o Aotearoa.

Maui’s jealous brothers don’t want him to come fishing with them. But clever Maui catches the best fish of all.

Te Ika a Maui / the Fish of Maui

Peter Gossage, translated by Merimeri Penfold

Picture Puffin

Supplied by Penguin Random House New Zealand

Reviewed by Jan Butterworth

This is the re-telling of a Maori myth about how Maui discovered the North Island of New
Zealand.

Maui’s foster brothers were jealous of him as he had magical powers and they didn’t, so when they planned a fishing trip they left him out.  After learning of this, Maui hid in the bottom of the canoe and emerging when they found a place to fish.

The illustrations are lifelike and well-drawn, very detailed and comprehensive in explaining the story.  The English and Maori language paragraphs are clearly defined and the text is mostly easy to read.  The white lettering on a light green background was a bit difficult to see, but the colours suited the story.

This is a bilingual Maori-English story.

Review of The Deep End: Diary of a Wimpy Kid #15 – Jeff Kinney

In The Deep End, book 15 of the Diary of a Wimpy Kid series from #1 international bestselling author Jeff Kinney, Greg Heffley and his family hit the road for a cross-country camping trip, ready for the adventure of a lifetime.

But things take an unexpected turn, and they find themselves stranded at an RV park that’s not exactly a summertime paradise. When the skies open up and the water starts to rise, the Heffleys wonder if they can save their vacation – or if they’re already in too deep.

The Deep End: Diary of a Wimpy Kid #15

Jeff Kinney

Puffin

Supplied by Penguin Random House New Zealand

Reviewed by Dylan Howell

The book series that won’t give up, Diary of a Wimpy Kid remains one of the most consistent and entertaining names in children’s literature, I’ve praised Kinney before for unbelievably hitting the reader with a fresh concept each time. Even now, upon the release of his 15th instalment. However, while “The Deep End” is incredibly derivative of an early entry in the franchise “the long haul”, it adds a new spin and raises the stakes higher than ever before.

This novel features the familiar Heffley family embarking on an outdoor camping trip following the events of “Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Wrecking Ball” when the family borrows a fixer upper RV from their shady Uncle Gary. As is expected of our titular Wimpy Kid, hijinks ensue. Floods, storms, wild animals, bullies, and overflowing sewage tanks are the least of Greg’s concerns in this solid entry in the franchise. It may be less relatable than other instalments, but at this point in the series, Greg is as sympathetic as any anti-hero can get.

“The Deep End” is suitable for children aged 9 and over. There are brief mentions of nudity, drinking, and violence but they aren’t intrusive or influential. The rest of the content may be pitched towards Americans, as some humour is specific to the flora and fauna of the United States. The subject matter however, of camping and road tripping could be of interest to anyone.

I can easily give this my seal of approval, I began reading these books when I was 8, a great age to enjoy them, and I still find them endearing page-turners at age 18. There’s something undeniable about the simple brilliance of these books, and the domino-stacking dance Kinney plays with his audience, which can be finished in a gut-busting afternoon.  I simply can’t recommend them enough. It would be tough to find a funnier children’s series.

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