66. The Horses Didn't Come Home by Pamela Rushby

The Horses Didn't Come Home by Pamela Rushby
Published March 2012 Harper Collins


From the publisher:

The last great cavalry charge in history took place at Beersheba in the Sinai Desert in 1917. It was Australian soldiers and horses that took part in, and won, this amazing, unexpected, unorthodox victory. The men proudly claimed it was their great-hearted horses that won the day. But in the end, the horses didn't come home...

There have been plenty of war stories written for children, there have even been a number of books about animals in war. This story is Australian, and possible not as well known as the story of the ANZACs at Gallipoli. But unlike the devastating outcome at Gallipoli, the cavalry charge at Beersheba in the Sinai Desert was a victory.

65. Mort by Martin Chatterton

Mort by Martin Chatterton
Published March 2012 Random House

From the publisher:
Time flies when you're having fun . . . Even when you're Mortimer DeVere, the 10,000-year-old boy. But when unexpected and unwelcome visitors arrive on Mort's home turf, the spooky Unk Island, he and his sister Agnetha will have their hands full dealing with some of the stranger hobbies they've tried to keep secret from one another and the outside world. Today may just turn out to be one of the most eventful days in Mort's very long life!

I had read a review somewhere that said throughout his 10,000 years, Mort had encountered many famous people, Leonardo da Vinci, HG Wells, Enid Blyton and Ghengis Khan to name a few.  That makes sense I thought, 10,000 years is a long time to live and you're bound to cross paths with a few big names.  This however is not the case.  Mort didn't meet these people during the course of his life, he cloned them!  He and his sister Agnetha have cloned famous dead people.  Mort has stuck to scientific types like Leo (Da Vinci) and Oppenheimer, while Agnetha has 'collected' authors like Agatha Christie, Enid Blyton and William Shakespeare.

64. Demolition by Sally Sutton and illustrated by Brian Lovelock

Demolition by Sally Sutton and illustrated by Brian Lovelock
Published March 2012 Walker Books

From the publisher:

Swing the ball. Swing the ball. Thump and smash and whack. Bring the top floors tumbling down. Bang! Clang! Crack! Load the trucks. Load the trucks. Lift and shift and heap. Drive away the piles of junk. Whump! Whop! Beep! Busy workers and noisy machines demolish an old building and build a new playground.

I find that there are very few picture books just for boys. Lots for girls, lots of general interest, but not many that are real 'boys' books. I was a big fan of Roadworks (also by Sally Sutton), so I was excited to see Demolition hit the shelves.

63. International Rescue Book 1: Paw Prints inthe Snow by Sally Grindley

International Rescue Book 1: Paw Prints in the Snow by Sally Grindley
Published March 2012 Allen & Unwin

From the publisher:

Two children accompany their parents as they travel the world helping animals on the verge of extinction. As their parents work alongside international agencies, the children have their own thrilling adventures!


Joe and Aesha are spending part of their school holidays at the Lazovsky Reserve in Far Eastern Russia. Their mother a world famous veterinarian has been asked there to train some young vets on how to anaesthatize tigers. Joe wants to follow in his Fathers' footsteps by being a wildlife photographer....so he has big hopes to photograph a tiger. Unfortunately the tigers numbers are small, and he may have more chance seeing a bus drive through the woods!

62. The Messenger Bird by Rosanne Hawke

The Messenger Bird by Roseanne Hawke
Published February 2012 UQP


From the publisher:

Never before has Tamar felt so alone. Her older brother is dead, her mum's away and her dad's so wrapped up in restoring their ancient farmhouse he avoids talking about the things that really matter. Even friendly new neighbour Gavin can't get through to her, despite his eager attempts.

When Tamar discovers an old handwritten sheet of music and allows herself to play piano again, she meets gifted violinist Nathaniel who may just hold the key to her future. With no one else to turn to, Tamar is unwittingly drawn into a journey through time and music.


This book almost starts in the middle of the story.  What happened before this story begins? Tamar's older brother Trystan has been killed in a car accident on a rural road, and her mother, unable to cope with her grief has left her family to get help.  So we have a teenage girl and her father living in an old house, each struggling with their own grief, and neither talking about it.

61. Ted Gets Lost by Michael Wagner illustrated by Tom Jellett

Ted Gets Lost by Michael Wagner illustrated by Tom Jellett

Published January 2012 Penguin

From the publisher:
With only a day until Mum's birthday, finding the best present ever seems impossible. But nothing's impossible for Oliver's fully-equipped and superbly trained stuffed friend, Ted.

Finding treasure on a desert island – easy! But will Ted survive crash-landing on a whale's blowhole, swimming through a swarm of stingers and battling a blood-thirsty band of pirates? Or will the little guy end up marooned forever?


This book is quite unashamedly ridiculous...and that is why boys will love it.


Oliver has a teddy bear that comes alive when he is with Oliver, but returns to his floppy teddy bear state when his parents or his sister are around.  
The story begins with Ted and Oliver deliberating over what get mum for her birthday. When Ted receives a letter (in the form of an origami helicopter) from Papa Guru (the leader of all the world's teddies) they think their problem has been solved.  Papa tells Oliver about a treasure of jewels buried on a remote island, all there just waiting for someone to dig up.

Two months down

Here we are already in March!  60 books read, only 306 to go.

So far I have read some amazing books, with fantastic characters.  I have visited Afghanistan, New York and Africa.  I have learnt about ducks, spent time with an artistic silverback and fallen in love with Fearless.  So many books, and so much to learn.

I am only two months into my challenge, and I think I have already read my own personal 'book of the year'.  That's a big call, with 10 months and 306 books to go, but I think Wonder by RJ Palacio is it.  Most books I read, I enjoy, and move on to the next one.  Wonder is a book that isn't easy to forget, it will be a book that I recommend for years to come.

See below for some of my other favourites for February.