The Pinchers and the Curse of the Egyptian Cat by Anders Sparring illustrated by Per Gustavsson translated by Julia Marshall

Blurb: Theo and Ellen accidentally break an ancient cat statue in the antique store. When they tell their mother Nic, she turns pale. It must have been the statue that ruined the life of their ancestor Pick Pincher! The curse of the Egyptian cat turns thieves into honest people and honest people into thieves. Pick met a terrible fate for a Pincher—he became a police officer. Now suddenly Ellen can’t lie and Theo is becoming a criminal. Theo and Ellen follow the clues to break the curse—after sneaking into the zoo through secret tunnels, breaking into the antique store and digging his way into more trouble, Theo must decide whether he is or isn’t a criminal.

Laced with dry humor, this wildly fantastical, gripping narrative zips along to a satisfying conclusion. Gustavsson’s atmospheric, action-packed, full-page images and vignettes bring to life both thrills and hilariously wacky antics. ... Another lively, funny jaunt with this unforgettable family. Kirkus

This is fun easy to read book perfect for readers aged 8+ because it is short, has colour illustrations and this it is part of a series. So far Gecko have published three books about The Pinchers.  The curse of the Egyptian Cat is titled Familjen Knyckertz och Gipskattens förbannelse in Swedish. The literal title is The Knyckertz family and the curse of the plaster treasure. You can see inside this book here - YouTube Trailer. 

Read more here

Read more here

Anders Sparring writes children's books and is a screenwriter for many popular television shows. He is also a stand-up comedian. He lives in Sweden.

Per Gustavsson is an illustrator and author living in Stockholm, Sweden. His bestselling books are translated to several languages.

My Gecko Press book (purchased from The Sun Bookshop in Yarraville Melbourne) and the Curse of the Egyptian Cat is the third book in the series. Here are the eight Swedish covers:

I want to list another book about a child who is the opposite of his parents - he is tidy they are disgustingly messy and there is a tidy town competition but I cannot think of the title and that plot fragment is all I remember except to say it was a short junior novel and it was probably published between 1990 and 2010. (post update I remembered this book - No Place for Grubbs by Max Dann Aussie Bites series). Your library might also have an old book by Pat Hutchins called The Curse of the Egyptian Mummy. 

Companion books:

Huxley and Flapjack race to the rescue

The Real Thief

The Man who Wore all his Clothes

Dandy the highway lion

Violet and the Pearl of the Orient

Dixie O'Day and the great Diamon Robbery

The Great Smile Robbery (out of print)

If I was a Banana by Alexandra Tylee illustrated by Kieran Rynhart

It would such fun to tell your class - 'tomorrow we will read a book called If I was a Banana'.  I can hear the giggles and gasps.

Here are a few text quotes:

"If I was a ladybug, I don't know how I would feel. To be that small could be a little frightening. And then, who knows, maybe I would be a very brave, bright ladyybug, and fly very high without a care in the world."

"If I was an elephant, I think I would have to be very careful where I put my feet. I guess you would get used to that."

This is another terrific book from Gecko Press (New Zealand).  It was published in 2016 but back then Scholastic Australia were the agents for Gecko and many of their titles were included in their International Titles standing order so I am hoping that this book might be found in your local or school library. It is also on the NSW Premiers Reading Challenge (K-2 code 8426).

I can see from the copy I borrowed from a library that this has been a popular title. Since it arrived in the library (they use date due slips) between 2017 and 2023 it has been borrowed 30 times. That is especially amazing when I tell you this book is shelved with other books about Philosophy at Dewey [100]. This library for students aged 4-7 so I don't imagine they regularly browse the nonfiction shelves - especially not the philosophy section. Another terrific thing about this book is the way the Teacher-Librarian has labelled her books with Sustainable Development Goals.  She has put the sticker for #5 - gender equity on this book. I am in awe of the work ethic of this Teacher-Librarian - she has put a huge amount of effort into labelling books in her library with stickers for each of the 17 goals. 

Drawn in a mostly realistic style with occasional touches of anthropomorphic exaggeration, the illustrations appear to have been created in pencil and oil pastel. Multiple sizes, from vignettes to double-page spreads, and unusual perspectives provide interest and rhythm. Rich textures and muted colors add to the dreamy quality of the text, which has a thoughtful, reflective tone throughout. Kirkus

This lovely exercise in imagination would be a brilliant classroom project for young writers, with lots of room for inventive art activities, too. Beautiful production and thick creamy paper gives the book a nice 'gifty' feel too, so it's perfect for special birthdays or christenings to keep and cherish. At home, it will make an ideal bedtime read, sparking conversation while being calm and dreamy enough to lull little ones to sleep. Book Trust

Alexandra Tylee and Kieran Rynhart are both from New Zealand. You can see the art from this book here. 

Companion books:

Big and Small and in-between

Don't forget

Things to Look forward to

This thing called Life

Silence

When Dad's Hair took off by Jörg Mühle translated by Melody Shaw

Blurb: One day, Dad’s hair decided it was tired of being brushed and combed. It wanted a life of its own, to see the world. It took off. Out of the bathroom, into the kitchen, and before you could say, “Hairsta la vista, baby!” it was gone. Dad gave chase around the town. He spots his hair hiding in the lawn, on the road, at the zoo —it’s amazing how many things look like hair. He gives up. Dad tries to accept life without hair. Then the postcards arrive. The hair is on a round-the-world trip and Dad is still bald. Until one day the unbelievable happens and the hair comes back.

This book is a quick one to read - it will be enjoyed by young readers aged 7+ but also by parents especially dads. It has 63 pages, some with just one line of text, and full colour zany illustrations.

When you share this book with a younger child they will be exposed to some terrific vocabulary: flailed, scolded, threatened, fluttered, whumped, hullabaloo, stalking, stomped, wits' end, apparently, shimmied, crypt, launderette, hightailed, and zilch.

I also love the sense that this is a story that has been told over and over again in this family - rather like a tall tale. 

Younger listeners will enjoy the silly, complicated chase scenes, while slightly older kids and even adults will also appreciate the plentiful puns and amusing alliteration.  Kirkus

When Dad's Hair Took Off is a great example of words and pictures telling the story, and it's all encapsulated in a short novel that will get young readers laughing. Kids' Book Review

Early readers are sure to love the madcap nature of this story. Reading Time

Here is the German cover:

We are lucky to have books by Jörg Mühle here in Australia and now thanks to Gecko Press we can.

Duck's Backyard

Two for me, One for you

Meet at the Ark, at Eight

Duck's backyard by Ulrich Hub illustrated by Jörg Mühle

Duck has a wonky leg so he uses a crutch. He is perfectly, perfectly happy living in his safe yard until ... Yes you knew there would be a complication and of course you anticipated what this might be from the cover illustration. A chicken arrives in the yard. Not just any ordinary chicken - a blind chicken - oh no. But wait do not feel sorry for this fellow because he is a chicken with a huge attitude and enormous confidence.

The chicken tells the duck today is the day for an adventure. Yes this is your classic optimist versus pessimist story and your classic or not quite so classic story of self discovery. Duck says NO NO NO. He will not leave his yard. The outside world is completely unsafe. The problem is the chicken needs duck to guide him since there are no guide dogs in the farm yard and so he persuades duck to step out of the yard and travel to ...

"Somewhere in the world ... there's a place where all our secret wishes come true."

The journey is filled with hazards - a dark forest, a huge ravine and an enormous mountain but at the top of the mountain an amazing discovery awaits chicken. Duck makes a discovery too - perhaps one you anticipated but still I guarantee this sweet ending will warm your heart.

Reading this book almost feels like a religious experience not that you need to be religious to enjoy this story. There are very deep themes (see my post labels) so this book will appeal to young children, older children and adults. Read the first chapter here. Here is an interview with Ulrich Hub. 

I adore books from Gecko Press. They source some fabulous books from around the world and invest in translating them for children who speak English. Duck's Backyard was originally published in German with the title Lahme Ente, blindes Huhn which means Lame duck, blind chicken so I am glad Gecko changed the title. School libraries in Australia used to be sent books from Gecko Press when Scholastic Australia had the agency now it is with Walker Books Australia so you may need to hunt out their books. When Scholastic had the agency books from Gecko Press were often included with their International standing order titles and also in the Book Club brochures. 

There is a sequel to Duck's Backyard but it is only available in German. I do hope Gecko Press decide to translate it. 

You should also read (don't wait add them to your library basket today) these books:

Yours sincerely, Giraffe

Meet you at Eight

Petra

Wolf and Dog

Bogtrotter

Bear and Chook by the Sea

Up the Mountain

Skunk and Badger

I previously talked about this book illustrated by Jörg Mühle.

Two for me, One for you

A Case with a Bang by Ulf Nilsson illustrated by Gitte Spee translated by Julia Marshall

 

This final instalment in the award winning Detective Gordon series is a multi-layered philosophical story about good detective work involving all, kindness to newcomers and doing the right thing. 

Gecko Press

A Case with a Bang is the fifth and final instalment in the detective Gordon series. EVERY Primary school library should add this series to their collection - they are fabulous. In these books you will meet quirky characters. You will read words of wisdom. And you will savour all the delicious cakes. You are sure to also enjoy solving each mystery alongside a very special mouse called Buffy. Ulf Nilsson died in 2021. 

In this final book from the series Buffy sets out to find out about a report of brumbling and scorching. A large garbage can has been bashed and smashed and there have been raids on kitchens in the district with residents reporting stolen pots and pans. Detective Gordon has now retired and Buffy is in charge. Gordon is still keen on police work (and cake) and so he offers to work with a young squirrel called Helmer who is keen to learn about police work.

Read the first chapter here on the Gecko Press page.  Julia Marshall from Gecko Press has translated the whole series so that children who read books in English can enjoy meeting Buffy and Gordon and all their forest friends. 

Blurb: Night brings a humming, scraping sound in the woods. Someone has wrecked the badger's trash can. Later, three large creatures are spotted up on the mountain. Detective Buffy discovers this seemingly small case really is a dangerous mystery—she comes back from her first investigation flat as a gingerbread, rolled over by something huge and terrifying. Back at the station, retired Detective Gordon is training a new young police assistant, and the cakes have run out in the forest bakery! While all the animals cower at the police station, Buffy remembers Gordon’s stories about trolls. Is it possible they do exist? Taking Gordon’s advice about how everyone thinks differently, she finds a way to communicate with the giant creatures—perhaps not so terrifying after all. The book leaves readers with a memorable Gordon message: Everyone thinks differently, strangers are welcome, cakes for everybody!

I just have one tiny issue.  If you have been collecting this series (as my friend has been) then you will want the five books to have the same cover design. Sadly with the newest instalment, the paperback edition has a different cover and here in Australia the hardcover edition which would match her set is almost AUS$38 - way too expensive for a school library to consider. The paperback is under AUS$19. If you are new to this series then the set of paperbacks will all match. 

I previously talked about the first book (The First Case) and the third book (A case in any case). In 2017 an animated version of the first book was released (in Swedish with subtitles). Oddly Buffy has been re-named Paddy. 

"There is always a good ending. In every story. And in real life.

If one is open to everything."

The Bear and the Wildcat by Kazumi Yumoto illustrated by Komako Sakai translated by Cathy Hirano

You might like to begin with my post about Komako Sakai.

Grief is a complex emotion. It is complex for the person left behind and it is complex for friends and acquaintances who do not know what to say or do. When little bird dies suddenly, Bear feels so alone in his grief.

"Bear cut a tree from the forest and made a little box. He stained it with berry juice and lined it with petals. Then he gently laid his friend inside."

There are so many tender emotions in this three short sentences. He made a little box. He lined it with petals. And he gently laid his friend. 

"Yesterday I had no idea that today you would be dead! ... If only I could go back to yesterday morning, I wouldn't need anything else in the world."

When Bear shows the little box to his friends they try to be pragmatic explaining little bird cannot come back but Bear is too consumed by grief. He goes home and locks his door and retreats to his bed. After some time has passed Bear opens his window and sees the sunshine outside. He sets off on a walk and meets a wildcat with a violin. The wildcat says just the right words:

"This little bird bust have been a very special friend of yours, ... You must miss him a lot."

Now is the time for healing. Bear allows himself to remember his friend and all the precious times they shared. 

Together they bury the little box and then decorate the spot with flowers. Bear WILL always remember his friend but now life CAN go on. And so he sets off with his new friend with a promise of adventures and happier times. 

Gecko Press published the English translation of this book in 2011 and in 2022 it was republished. 

This post is in memory of Joan Henderson who sadly reached the end her long life journey earlier this week. Sending gentle healing thoughts to her special daughter Pam. 

Here is a very new Australian book which covers similar feelings and themes. I will talk in more detail about this book later in the year:

You might also look at some previous posts which talk about grief and the death of a loved one.

The Last Goodbye

The River

Ida Always