Eddie Pipper (Janeen Brian, illus by Emma Stuart, New Frontier Publishing)

Eddie loves penguins. He loves them more than anything in the world. He has toy penguins, books on penguins, penguin posters, and he knows all about penguins. He even dresses his little sister like a penguin. Pets day is coming up at school, and Eddie desperately wants to take a pet penguin to the pet parade, but he doesn’t have one. He decides to build his own from papier mache, to show his parents he can care for a real one. But Eddie’s forgetfulness always seems to get the better of him. Will Eddie be able to convince his parents that he can care for a pet? Eddie Pipper is part of the new series for younger readers called ‘Little Rockets’. Author Janeen Brian has produced an engaging and relatable tale of an amusingly single-minded character, his family and friends. Kids will relate to Eddie’s obsessions, his embarrassments and his forgetfulness. They may even learn something about penguins to boot. Emma Stuart’s illustrations are a lively and charming addition. This is a recommended read for children aged seven and up.

Heath Graham is an educator currently working at the State Library of Victoria

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Category: Reviews