posted on 01 Jul 2021

Maverick Early Readers: White Band Chapter Books

Another batch of wonderful reading books arrived recently and, as we've noted before, this publisher never disappoints. These stories graded as the white band are aimed at well-established readers and the chapter format allows the author to gradually unfold each plot with suitable pace and suspense. Let me tell you about some of my favourites:

Message in a Bottle by Elizabeth Dale, illustrated by Mona Meslier Menuau

Jack and Harry send messages to each other across the sea using bottles. This is all very exciting and the two friends correspond enthusiastically. Jack is a little bit concerned that his life doesn’t sound as interesting as the other boy. He also worries about things like being scared of water. He likes to confide all this to Harry but then his new friend stops replying. What could have happened to him and how will he ever find out?

All turns out ok and he then gets some very useful advice to try something new from his mystery correspondent who encourages him to be more confident.  The unusual friendship grows and develops until Jack suggests that they meet face to face, which turns out to be more much complicated than he could ever imagine. I won’t spoil the ending, but I think you might be as surprised as I was.

The Gnome Who Roamed by Heather Pindar, illustrated by Juliana Cuervo

Gerome Gnome loves to roam far from home and to have adventures. When he goes on his travels he spots another gnome peeping out from the top of a woman’s shopping bag. He decides to join him and he is rather disappointed to find that he gets absolutely no response. By the time he has realised that his companion is made of stone, he is in a tricky situation that means he has to remember all the rules of his Gnoming Code if he is going to stay safe. Luckily he meets someone who can help him out and together they plot to escape from the Garden Centre. Once settled into a new garden, Gerome is very content, but soon finds out that there is no place like home.

Astro Academy by Cath Jones, illustrated by Max Rambaldi

Starting at a new school can be quite a tense experience but this is made much worse Abdi accidently gets on the wrong minibus and ends up arriving at Astro Academy, a school for aliens! The other pupils all look like humans, but are apparently in disguise. Luckily they seem to be friendly so he tries to make the best of things. And the curriculum is pretty thrilling! His first flight in a space pod goes surprisingly well and he excels himself in The Zero Gravity Zone when he scores a goal for his team.  If only his real school could be as exciting …

Wizard Cat by Rebecca Lisle, illustrated by Lilia Miceli

Wilfred is a homeless cat who accidently stumbles into a castle. When he overhears Princess Poppet complaining about he lost slippers, he proves himself to be very helpful, without meaning to. It turns out that here is a colony of mice living in her bedroom who have used her slipper as a cosy nest. The Royal Family are very pleased and appoint him as the temporary Palace Wizard, a vacant post. He is rather nonplussed at being given the new role, but fate is on his side when he catches a burglar.  Now he is really admired and promised that one more piece of clever magic will make his position official. You will be glad to know that he manages something so impressive that he is guaranteed the job for life with all the trimmings of cream, sardines and smoked salmon (which is all he is really interested in after all).   

I can’t help thinking that any children who have progressed through the earlier bands will have very high standards in terms of character and plot development – as they should. This innovative publisher consistently produces challenging, beautifully illustrated texts with a focus on learning to read as an exciting experience.

Strongly recommended

Karen Argent

July 2021