Review: Murf Murf the Dolphin Dog

Murf Murf the Dolphin Dog

Written by Sonya Warner

Illustrated by Sarah Nelisiwe Anderson

Publication date: 2011
Publisher: Akaroa Dolphins
ISBN: 978-0-473-18270-0

Summary/Back cover:
Once upon a time, in a little town not far away from the city, was a cute little dog who had a real job!  His tail was fluffy, and his beard was scruffy... 

Murf Murf is a real-life sea dog who works on a dolphin-watching boat in the small New Zealand town of Akaroa.  Follow his adventures at sea with his playful dolphin friends!

Review:
My parents went on a dolphin-watching cruise and purchased this book for my sons while they were there - they purchased it from Akaroa Dolphins, but Sonya, the author, has kindly emailed me to let me know where else it is available - see the comments section for the list of retailers.

Written in a gentle rhyme, the story of Murf Murf appealed to my 3 year old immediately, and has been requested over and over. When Murf Murf falls off the boat, my son was quite worried the first time, but now calls out with me as I read "Don't worry Murf, we won't let you drown!"

The illustrations are beautiful - I particularly love the expressions Sarah has managed to draw into Murf Murf's face - who knew a dog had so many emotions?!

This is definitely a book worth having on your bookshelf - and even better if you can take your children to see some dolphins before or after having read the book.

My rating: 4 out of 5.

Review written by Bronwyn

Review: Quaky Cat

Quaky Cat

Written by Diana Noonan

Illustrated by Gavin Bishop

Publication Date: 2010
Publisher: Scholastic New Zealand Limited
ISBN: 978-1-77543-029-2

Summary/back cover:
“On a cold Christchurch morning, while the city was sleeping,
before the birds roused him with twitters and cheeping,
curled up on the end of his friend Emma’s bed,
Tiger woke with a start… and a feeling of dread.”


Written in response to the Canterbury earthquake of 2010, Quaky Cat is an evocative, uplifting story that will touch the hearts of all who read it.

Review:
The earthquakes we’ve experienced, here, in Canterbury, over the past 12 months have had a profound impact on our family. My kids’ grand-dad lost his job and him and Nana moved away. My kids no longer wave Daddy ‘good-bye’ at the front door because his building was in the cordon and he now works out of our third bedroom. The kids tell us the washing machine is “noisy like ur-cake (earthquake)”, and they are often subjected to the sight of crumbled remains of demolished buildings around the city.

It’s difficult to fully understand the emotions of children who were only a year old when the first earthquake struck last September, but my best deduction is that they’ve found the earthquakes and associated events both scary and intriguing. Those seem to be their emotions about Quaky Cat, too.

Quaky Cat is a regularly requested story in our house. The illustrations are quite unique, often depicted through paint-splattered silhouettes. I wasn’t sure what the kids would make of them, but my boys love the illustrations. I think they love the character of Tiger, the cat, too. I get the impression they feel they can relate to his fears and confusion over what’s happening around him. I think this book has given the kids a way to understand what’s happened to their city and to give them a way to discuss what happened through the careful use of images and language that bring the impact of this natural disaster within the scope of a child’s limited vocabulary and comprehension.

The flip-side is that the book appears to remind the kids of the earthquakes and sometimes seems to upset them by reliving the trauma.

Despite that, I still think this story is important and would recommend it to all families in New Zealand as a sweet story of what’s really valuable in life, and a way to approach the discussion of earthquakes with the littlies.

My rating: 4.8 out of 5

Review written by team_s



Side note from Bronwyn:
If you're interested in purchasing a copy of this book, you can find it here at Fishpond.

Review: Hairy Maclary and Zachary Quack

Hairy Maclary and Zachary Quack

Written and Illustrated by Lynley Dodd

Publication date: 1999

Publisher: Mallison Rendel Publishers

ISBN: 978-0-908783-80-9

Summary/Back cover:

A board book edition of this best selling Hairy Maclary story. Hairy Maclary is looking for some peace and quiet for his afternoon doze. But everywhere he goes he's followed by an irrepressible yellow duckling, Zachary Quack, who wants to footle and frolic and play. Hairy Maclary keeps trying to skedaddle away only to be followed by the pittery pattery duck! Eventually Hairy Maclary realises that he can't shake off Zachary Quack and they curl up together for a doze in the sun!

Review: 

I'm a huge fan of Lynley Dodd's work, especially the Hairy Maclary series - but what Kiwi Kid isn't?!  This story is a beautiful wee tale of eventual friendship, and has the trademark rhyming nature that we're used to with Lynley Dodd, and the repeated lines (in this book:  Pittery pattery, skittery scattery, ZIP round the corner came Zachary Quack) that draw young children into reading along with their parents.

My 2.5 year old has requested this book over and over - sometimes asking for it 5 or 6 times in a row, before we're allowed to move on to the next book!  My 10 month old, who has trouble sitting through a whole book, enjoys this one too.

My rating: 4.8 out of 5

Review written by Bronwyn

Review: Sizzles is Completely Not Here

Sizzles is Completely Not Here

A Charlie and Lola book

Written by Lauren Child

Publication date: 2007
Publisher: Puffin
ISBN: 978-0-1413-8337-8


Summary/Back cover:
Charlie has this little sister Lola. Lola is supposed to be looking after Marv's dog. Sizzles. But he seems to have disappeared...Lola says, "Sizzles is completely not here." Join Charlie and Lola on their search for Sizzles the dog. Lift the flaps and see if you can spot where Sizzles is hiding. 


Review:
I love this book. And so does my 3 year old. A large board book with heaps of flaps. Open the door, open the book, open the window, open the fridge. Each page is a different part of Charlie and Lola's house, and we travel round with them as they look for Sizzles. 
I give this book a 4/5


Review written by WellyMel

Review: Mog the Forgetful Cat

Mog the Forgetful Cat

Written and Illustrated by Judith Kerr

Publication date: 2005
Publisher: HarperCollins
ISBN: 978-0-0071-7134-7


Summary/Back cover:
"Bother that cat!"
Mog always seems to be in trouble. She forgets that she has a cat flap and she forgets that she has already eaten her supper. But, one night, Mog's forgetfulness come in very handy

Review:
This book is fun! It's one of those books where you can change your voice and tone often to really tell the story with a smile... The line "Bother that Cat!" is repeated several times throughout the book which is cool for letting small kids join in with the reading. The illustrations are very cute.

This book gets a 2 thumbs up from my family


Review written by Leesh

Review: Why Do Dogs Sniff Bottoms?

Why do dogs sniff bottoms?

Written by Dawn McMillan and Bert Signal

Illustrated by Ross Kinnaird

Publication date: 2008

Publisher: Penguin Group (NZ)

ISBN: 978-0-14-350288-3

Summary/Back cover

Dawn McMillan and Bert Signal provide an answer to that age-old question - why exactly do dogs sniff bottoms?

Hilarious!  The inside cover tells us how the story is based on a few lines of an old 1930s rugby song as remembered by one of the authors, Bert Signal.  It also says how that song was probably unsuitable for children.  Unfortunately, Bert did not live to see the book published. 

This kiwi book opens with the titular question and "why the embarrassing disgrace with no regard for time or place?".  We learn that a long time ago all dogs attended a canine concert, but due to the formal dress, the bouncer on the door wouldn't let any bottoms in, so they had to leave their bottoms, with their tails, at the door.  They are all enjoying the show, when someone yells "Fire!" which creates a mad panic and saw all the dogs grab whatever bottom was to hand.  Since then they have continued to search for their own by sniffing at everyone elses.

I love humourous books, and this one fits the bill perfectly.  It has a great rhyming scheme and funny illustrations so it's one that will be enjoyed by both parent and child. 

5/5

Review written by QTCass

Review: Some Dogs Do

Some Dogs Do

Written and Illustrated by Jez Alborough

Publication date: 2003
Publisher: Candlewick
ISBN: 9781406310542

Summary/Back cover:
All dogs walk and jump and run, but dogs don't fly - it can't be done...
Or can it?

Review:
This is a book all about holding onto your dreams no matter how crazy they seem to others. Every time I read it, I feel a little bubble of hope and happiness in my chest. It is rhyming, beautifully illustrated and purely positive.

Rating - 4/5

Review written by LatteJunkie

Review: My Cat Likes to Hide in Boxes

My Cat Likes to Hide in Boxes

Written by Eve Sutton

Illustrated by Lynley Dodd

Publication date: 1978
Publisher: Puffin Books

ISBN: 978-0140502428

Summary/Back cover:

Lots of cats all around the world do exciting things like fly aeroplanes or play the violin – but my cat, an ordinary round-the-house cat, likes to hide in boxes. Children will love joining in with this fun rhyming story that is just right for beginner readers.

A classic New Zealand children's book with drawings by Lynley Dodd. This book is cute with lovely rhymes and illustrations but is quite repetitive to read. It would be good for kids when learning to read though and they love calling out "but MY cat likes to hide in boxes".

4 out of 5

Review written by Carrie

Review: Kit the Cat

Kit the Cat

Written by Alison Maloney 

Illustrated by Maddy McClellan

Publication date: 2008

Publisher: Meadowside Children's Books

ISBN: 978-1845393557

Summary/Back cover:

Kit the Cat sits and spits at flash the fish who flips and flaps in the fish pond. Can kit the cat catch flash the fish or does dig the dog dare to save her?

This is one of the first books I was given for Robbie before he was born and it's still one of my favourites. The illustrator has to get co-credits for the book because they are so perfect. There's so much going on and the drawings are full of texture. The story is set in the garden around "a pretty paved pond" where Flash the Fish live and Kit the cat live. Kit himself (or herself) is a crafty looking cat set on capturing Flash but his nefarious plan is thwarted by neighbouring Dig the Dog. As you can tell, the story is full of tongue-twisting alliteration and rhymes. Example: "Kit the Cat licked and picked up Flash the Fish then span and ran through the clackety cat flap". I'm probably spoiling the story, but it does end well for Flash the Fish. It's a kid's story after all.

This book is fun to read, which is pretty important for a parent and you won't get too tired of it after the umpeenth reading. I haven't yet anyway.

My rating: 5 out of 5

Review written by Carrie