Bilal's Brilliant Bee by Michael Rosen

If I still worked in my school library I would most definitely add this book to my collection because firstly, and this might seem strange, but I love Bilal's name. We had very few children in my previous school with multicultural heritage. Equally this book could be terrific in a school where there are kids with the name Bilal which is an Arabic or Turkish name. Secondly, I do like the moral dilemma layer of this story. Did Bilal cheat and so should he confess? These books (see below) are short with only 90 illustrated pages and short chapters that are sure to keep readers turning the pages guessing how the story could possibly have a happy ending.

Bilal finds schoolwork difficult. He never seems to be able to find the 'right' answer to the questions asked by his teachers but one day a bee arrives in his classroom and, very surprisingly, Bumble the Bee is able to give Bilal answers to those pesky questions. 

After school Bilal watches a television a quiz show What's what? Win the Lot! with his grandmother. Now that he has the help of Bumble he is able to answer any question on the quiz which consists of 101 questions. The winner takes home every prize in the studio. The early questions are easy but of course they get harder and harder. So far no one has ever won this quiz. I am sure you have guessed that Bilal goes on the quiz show and he answers nearly every question with the help of Bumble. 

Then comes questions 101 - What is the barcode on the label on the bottle of water in my pocket? An impossible question and certainly one Bumble the Bee cannot answer but I am certain Bilal will surprise you.

Typical of former Children's Laureate Michael Rosen, this book is funny, sly and gloriously accompanied by Tony Ross' instantly recognisable bold illustrations. Book Trust

This book is one title from a set of eight books by Michael Rosen illustrated by Tony Ross. Strangely one online book seller lists books from this series as over AUS$23 while another lists them at just over AUS$14. It pays to shop around. Bilal's Brilliant Bee was published in 2016 but it is still available. 

I have previously talked about Choosing Crumble.

Runt by Craig Silvey illustrated by Sara Acton

"Then for the first time Annie used her magic finger. She held it up, and Runt sat down. There was an invisible energy that seemed to connect them. It was as though a kind of electricity moved from the tip of Annie's finger to the end of Runt's snout."

"Remember, it's just like at home. Don't worry about all the sheep outside the fence. Just keep looking at me. You can do it. If we win this, we can go to London and try to pay the overdraft on the overdraft, and I could afford all the MUSH (dog food) you could ever eat."

This is a thoroughly joyous story about a girl and her wonderful dog named Runt. Life could be so good in their small Australian country town but a very, very greedy neighbour has been buying up the land and houses and he has redirected the town water into his own lake. There is a serious drought and the farmers who still live in Upson Downs are rapidly running out of hope and money.

Mum and Dad especially need money because the greedy landowner, appropriately named Earl Robert-Barren, is demanding the family pay him thousands of dollars for damage caused by their runaway sheep. 

Annie's dog Runt though,  has special talents. Annie discovers there is a competition with enormous prize money - enough money to save her family. Runt wins the agility course at the local rural show, then he wins at the National titles. The next stop is the Krumpets Dog Show in London but how will the family ever afford the plane ticket? Oh and there are two other HUGE problems. Firstly, Runt will not compete in front of an audience (the family do solve this in a very creative way). And secondly there is a serious rival - Fergus Fink. He plans to win at Krumpets and nothing will get in his way - nothing!

I usually laugh or dismiss the hyperbole often found on the back cover of books but I totally agree with these words:

"Runt is a heartwarming and hilarious tale of kindness, friendship, hurdles, hoops, tunnels, see-saws, and, above all, being yourself and bringing out the best in others."

Runt would be a terrific class read aloud book for a Grade 3 or 4 class and also a wonderful family read aloud. I almost read the whole book in one sitting and it does have 345 pages so hopefully that shows you that I thoroughly enjoyed the storytelling and twists and turns of this story. You will cheer for Annie and Runt and boo and hiss at Fergus Fink (he is a fink).  I do hope this book is selected for the CBCA Younger Readers notables in 2023.  Runt will be published in October, 2022. It would also make a wonderful present if you know an Australian family living overseas.  Huge thanks to Beachside Bookshop for my advance copy. 

Craig Silvey is the author of the adult titles - Honeybee and Jasper Jones. 

The beautiful community spirit and family unity in this book reminded me of this one:

The Stupendously Spectacular Spelling Bee

And the problem solving and the affect of drought on small rural communities reminded me of this one:

Bungawitta

Max Champion and the great Race Car Robbery by Alexander McCall Smith illustrated by Kate Hindley

Written in his wonderfully measured style of words, Alexander McCall Smith has created a gentle story about courage, goodness and honesty which will delight the hearts of younger readers. Blue Wolf Reviews

Here we have a brilliant junior novel. It contains all the right ingredients - cars, racing cars and running races, fair play and justice, goodies and baddies and a very, very happy ending. This is a book to enjoy in a family and it should be in every library collection too.

Max's grandfather repairs old cars but in his younger years he built cars and he branded them with the name Champion. Years ago Grandfather Gus took one of his cars, named Arabella, in a car rally from England to India. Until right near the end Arabella was winning the race but they had a serious rival named Adolphus Grabber.  Grandfather Gus still has no proof but he is fairly sure the engine failure close to the end of the race was sabotage and that Adolphus Grabber, who won the race, was to blame.

The Grabber family now live near Max, his mother and grandfather. As fate would have it Max finds himself in a running race up against Pablo Grabber. It is a relay race. Max is just about to take off on the final leg. "He didn't see Pablo - nobody saw him, because cheats are often very careful to make sure that nobody seems them cheating."

Everything finally comes to a head when Max and his mother are working at the Grabber mansion. His mother has been employed to make 2000 sandwiches. Max walks away to take a little rest from the sandwiches and stumbles into a room filled with stolen goods and now the chase is really on and it is time for the truth to be revealed.

Begin here and read a chapter sample and here is an audio sample which begins from page 7. The illustrations are just perfect by Kate Hindley.  Take a look at my review of Oliver and Patch.

I would follow Max Champion and the Great Race Car Robbery with The No.1 Car spotter series by Atinuke.  Take a look at Alexander McCall Smith's web site for a list of all his adult and children's titles. In our school Mike's Magic Seeds is still one of our most popular books and a real treat to read aloud.