What fun it would be to read the book and then go ‘beachwards’ for the real thing! The book contains a glossary at the close to help young investigators learn more about their discoveries. The text is simple enough for young children to handle independently but dare I say it is those fabulous illustrations which will the little ones over. Narelle’s ever elegant lino cut illustrations bring the secrets of the rock pool crevices vividly to life and children will adore poring over them finding their favourites. These are all the creatures Miss Small loves to spot when we go exploring at low tide so this has special connection for us. Whether it’s splodgy sea cucumbers or ubiquitous turban shells, sea anemones or the ever delightful hermit crabs – they are all here just waiting to be discovered. Rock Pool Secrets takes young readers into the nooks and crannies of our seashore with beautiful illustrations and stunningly crafted lift-the-flaps to find still more. What a huge loss to our Australian children’s literature community Narelle Oliver is and how privileged am I to be able to review and promote her last book which, again, is a testament to her immeasurable talent. Highly recommended for readers from around 8 years upwards.
Dragon keeper by carole wilkinson summary series#
Read more about the series and Tao’s guide to dragons here. This is ostensibly (is that a perhaps Carole?) the final in the saga but we can all hope that we may yet get to find out if the future of the dragons is assured. So much richness in Carole’s writing always has readers hooked in readers from the very start and so many of us have eagerly anticipated each forthcoming new adventure. There are, as usual, so many beautiful moments and themes in this latest instalment – the strength that resides within even the smallest of sentient beings, the connections between all living things, the loyalty and faith of friends, acceptance of differences and more. A mysterious sickness afflicts the beasts and that is only the beginning of the many trials Tao must overcome before he, and Kai, can attain their desire and destiny.
They finally reach their destination, the dragon haven, where Kai is destined to fulfil his role as leader and Tao hopes to become dragon keeper for all dragons only to find much is amiss with the remaining dragons. Six books later 400 years have passed in the history of the dragons and their keepers and now Ping’s descendant Tao, a young Buddhist boy partly trained as a monk, and Kai, the dragon Ping cared for as a hatchling are escaping from the dreaded Jilong, avowed dragon hater, and his horde of nomads. Set in ancient China where dragon hunters and warring feudal lords, oppression of the miserable poor and contemptuous dismissal of females were commonplace, the girl who became Ping the honoured dragon keeper is a heroic figure. In 2002 Carole Wilkinson introduced us to a small downtrodden Chinese girl with no name and a marvellous world of beautiful, mysterious and terrible dragons.
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