Harry Potter and the half-blood Prince by J.K.Rowling

A book that I have read was a very fun one it was called "Harry Potter and the half-blood Prince".
If I could rate it in stars I would score it 5/5 stars. I like Harry Potter books but the half-blood prince is the best one. I like it because its the one with the most magic in it. It is my fav book.

Nathaniel Froud Yr3

Diary of a wimpy kid by Jeff Kinney

I like the story because Greg dropped his ice cream and he just stood there and stared at it. The mean characters are Rodrick, Greg, Mum, Dad and Midget. I liked it because he was on the road and the men said "get off the road," and then Greg dived onto the grass and he said that it hurts.
Reviewed by Jared Yr 3

Silk Umbrellas by Caroline Marsden

"Your trembling is good, Noi" said Kun Ya. "That's the way the butterfly moves. Let the movement spread to your whole body, not just your fingers. Paint with all of you. Become the butterfly."

Noi and Ting are sisters who live in rural Thailand. They always enjoyed spending time with their grandmother (Kun Ya) in the jungle painting on transparent silk umbrellas to sell for money.

Noi always had a gift and passion for painting. Kun Ya let her paint simple things like leaves. When Noi painted these simplisitc things she felt as though all the shades of green rushed through her body like a flowing river and painted with excitement.

Noi and her family were very poor and didn't have enough money so Ting (Noi's sister) had to go and work in a factory where she spent her time fixing radios. Noi wished her sister didn't have to go and wanted to sell the umbrellas she painted. Kun Ya was getting too old to go and paint so Noi wanted to paint for her but was too shy to ask.

In the end, Noi has the bravery and shows the fig umbrella she painted to her parents. Her parents allow her to paint for money and she did not have to go to the factory.

I enjoyed this book and recommend it to years 5 and up.

Reviewed by Hannah Yr 5

Questacon Science Squad

Children enjoyed both the Liquid Nitrogen Show and the Bubbles Show which were held in the September School holidays. One lucky person was even placed inside a bubble!

Don't forget to check out our future holiday activities for more Questacon fun.

Cartooning with Tony Murphy

A great time was had by all who came to our cartooning workshop with Tony Murphy. He was hilarious and very, very clever! While learning to draw a cat, Tony reminded the children "we are in cartoon land not nature studies". Tony talked about using shapes to start off your drawing. Next was an elephant where he described the shape of the elephants ears as "crinkle cut chips". Tony finished off with Spongebob and The Simpsons!

How come the best clues are always in the garbage? by Linda Bailey

The rush of adrenaline comes in when Stevie, a fairly normal eleven-year-old, returns home from school to see her mum collapsed in a chair, crying. Over a thousand dollars collected from the organisation Stevie's mum works for, Garbage Busters, has been stolen. With her goofy dad studying animals in the Yukon, Stevie decides to try and solve the mystery herself. She meets Jesse, a stringy, nerdy boy, who suggests that they become partners. But while Stevie has a list of suspects, she can never put the full puzzle together.

This rollercoaster ride of a story will have you on tenderhooks, leaving you reeling when the thief of the Garbage Busters money is revealed. I thoroughly enjoyed "How come the best clues are always in the garbage?" because Linda Bailey has created such imaginative characters and has slipped in clues you never even think could be helpful. Overall, a brilliant read! 10/10

Reviewed by Lily

Pippi Longstocking by Astrid Lindgren

My favourite book is called Pippi Longstocking. Pippi Longstocking is about a nine year old girl who's mother is an angel and father is a king of the natives, at least she liked to believe. She lives in a house called Villa Villakulla. She actually has no parents, but she has two friends called Tommy and Anika and Tommy lives next door.

She doesn't go to school and has two pets called Mr Nilson and her horse. Mr Nilson is a rare pet and wears a yellow raincoat and a straw hat. She sleeps with her monkey in her room and sleeps with her head under the blanket and feet on her pillow. She once had to save two boys from their flat that was on fire. She doesn't know what a circus is and is the stongest person on Earth world. I like this book because it's funny, weird, silly, crazy aand I wouldn't change a thing.

Reviewed by Tessa Yr 3