EARLY

Ludy, Mark (2008). The Flower Man: a wordless picture book. Sydney, Australia: New Holland         Publishers Pty. Ltd.

I love this wordless picture book!  Aimed at children 3-6 years old it is a great story for every age.  Before the story begins there is a quote from the author, "My grandpa always said, Everyone's gotta story...you jus' gotta find out what it is."  It's a great quote and a wonderful way to start this story, as it encourages the curiousity from the reader.
  This is such a beautifully illustrated book that you will want to find a child and go through it with them.  Creating your story from what you observe in a wordless picture book is a wonderful way to create the magic of books with any youngster.  The basic sotryline is, a flower man moves into a dreary new town and brings life and colour to the town by sharing his love of flowers.  Its a terrific book for curious toddlers that love to tell us all stories as well as older children as it sparks such a wonderful way of sharing stoies.  Noticing all the different stories happening on each page though the windows and actions of the characters is a great way to discuss humanity and our passions.  Everyone on the planet should read this book in my opinion.

MIDDLE

McGowan, Anthony (2011). The Donut Diaries: of Dermot Milligan. Great Brittan: Corgi Books.

This book is more than a donut diary, it is a recollection of this young mans life as he grows up.  From going to big school, making new friends and the challenges of foot in mouth responses he has a tendancy to create.  Boys can relate to Dermot's uncomfortable age and dysfunctional funny family.  A stage most prepubescent children go though when discovering who they are and what they value. It's a funny book with disgusting bits to bring big smiles to boys aged 9-12.  Ever since the popularity of Jeff Kinney's The Wimpy Kid series, parents and children have been looking for books that are similar in the angst of the early high school years.  This book is a great read, it has the threat of Camp Fatso, the dysfuntional family unit, the bully and the hilarity of awkward moments.  Here is an excerpt from the book:

Sunday 17 September
I was burning my childhood.  It was an authentic Rite of Passage, like when Maori boys get their first tattoo, or Eskimos snog their first walrus.  I felt my eyes begin to water.  At first I thought it was because of all the emotion.  It's not everyday you say goodbuye to your childhood.  Then I realized it was because of all the black oily smoke coming off othe burning plastic.  We moved back.  It was quite impressive.  There weren't any decent flames, but there was a red glow from underneath the tangled pile of old toys, and so much smoke you'd have thought a battleship had been torpedoed and dive-bombed to destruction.  It was aobut then that I head the first faint siren.  And by siren, I don't mean a beautiful sea maiden trying to lure me onto the rocks - I mean the electornic wail of a police car.  Or, as it turned out, fire engine. 'What the hell's going on?'  That was my dad, leaning out ot the upstairs toilet window.

I would highly recommend this book to any child that has enjoyed the Jeff Kinney series, or enjoys diary formatted books with a sense of awkward humour.  Dermot Milligan has won me over, and not only because he likes his donuts!

TEEN

Moon, Pat (2006). Do Not Read or Else!: Finch's secrets on Love, Lies, Truth, Who is my Dad?.
     Sydney, Australia: Hachette Books.

Shorlisted for the Sheffield Children's Book Awards, Do not read or Else! Is a terrific journey though a young teenagers crazy world.  Finch is obsessed with finding her real father, so much so, she ignores or goes right against the advice of her very own boyfriend!  Aged twelve and a half, Finch is a girl you want to relate to.  Her mother is pregnant with triplets and dating the father, Ian.  Here is an excerpt from the book:

Monday, 29th November
19.05
If anyone is osessed, it's Ian.  He's obsessed with ababies!  He came home with a huge pile of books from the library about childbirth.  Hand to endure him reading out INERESTING FACTS during dinner.  E.g. The placenta is the baby's life-support system.  This is attached from the mother's uterus to the baby by the umbilical cord.  Twins and triplets can be formed with a single egg splits.  PER-LEEZ! Not when i'm eating my omelete!

 Everything is a big deal, from not having enough pocket money, two weddings, triplets and a very smelly dog.  But the most important thing to Finch is, who is her dad and how does she find him?  This book touches on sujects of truth, friendships, money, family, kissing and sex.  A great series for girls aged 12-14.  Finch is relatable and fun.  The diary format of this book makes it a great fast paced read.  I would recommend this book and series to girls aged 12 and up who especially enjoy reading diary formatted books.

Helpful Links

Here is a list of helpful links relating to Children and Literature:

http://booksforkeeps.co.uk/

http://www.fantasticfiction.co.uk/

http://englishonline.tki.org.nz/English-Online/Teacher-needs/Teaching-Learning-sequences/Archived-English-Online-units/English-Units-Years-4-6/Fab-Fiction-Close-Reading

http://esolonline.tki.org.nz/ESOL-Online/Teacher-needs/Pedagogy/ESOL-teaching-strategies/Oral-language/Teaching-approaches-and-strategies/Reading/Three-level-reading-guides

http://esolonline.tki.org.nz/ESOL-Online/Teacher-needs/Pedagogy/ESOL-teaching-strategies/Oral-language/Teaching-approaches-and-strategies/Reading/Anticipatory-reading-guides

http://literacyonline.tki.org.nz/Literacy-Online/Teacher-needs/Instructional-Series/Ready-to-Read/The-Ready-to-Read-series

http://literacyonline.tki.org.nz/Literacy-Online/Teacher-needs/Instructional-Series/Ready-to-Read/The-theory-behind-Ready-to-Read

http://literacyonline.tki.org.nz/Literacy-Online/Teacher-needs/Instructional-Series/Ready-to-Read/Ready-to-Read-in-lteracy-programmes

http://www.stonesoup.com/

http://www.mightybook.com/

http://kidbibs.com/home.htm

http://manyanswers.co.nz/