BARKING MAD
by Tom E. Moffatt with illustrations
by Paul Beavis
(Scholastic, $17)
Rotorua writer Tom E. Moffatt won the 2015 Storylines Tom Fitzgibbon Award for this laugh-out-loud story about the hijinks that ensues when Fingers - Finn - is told his beloved granddad has gone, well, barking mad and is licking the postman, growling like a dog and chasing hospital security guards up trees. Then he and his sister - "she's so annoying" - Sally discover that while trying out his latest invention, granddad accidentally swapped bodies with his dog. It's up to Fingers and Sally to ensure everyone ends up in the body they were born with. It's an amusing tale that will have kids young and old laughing as well as imagining what it would be like to swap bodies with their nearest and dearest - and a little imagining is always a good thing.
BRUCE WANTS TO GO FASTER
by Dreydon Sobanja with illustrations
by Murray Dewhurst
(HarperCollins, $25)
Behind every headline-generating triumph, there's frequently another story of hard work, grit and determination. It's that these youngsters need to hear to counter the more prevalent overnight successes and rags-to-almost-instant-riches tales that can make them quit before they've started. This is a kid-friendly biography of the late motor-racing legend Bruce McLaren, who grew up wanting to race cars but, at age 11, developed Perthes Syndrome, which affects the growth of hip joints. He spent two years with legs in plaster at the Wilson Home for Crippled Children but his desire to "go faster" never wavered. This is about resilience and not falling at the first hurdle. Steeped in Kiwiana, the illustrations create a very special book.
CHARLIE AND THE WAR AGAINST THE GRANNIES
By Alan Brough
(Macmillan, $20)
Back in the 1990s, Hawera-born comedian and actor Alan Brough was all over New Zealand TV, notably as Marge from a series of butter advertisements. He's been based across the ditch for the better part of 15 years, earning a crust as a TV and radio host. Released earlier this year, this is Brough's first book and it's a pacey, original and all-round great read. Charlie Ian Duncan just wants a paper round - Brough admits having to explain to kids what a paper round is exactly - but there's a turf war with a mysterious gang of grannies who are determined Charlie will never deliver the news. The story races along faster than a 12-speed bike; there's a dizzying number of twists and turns and weird and wonderful characters to keep readers engaged.
THE DIAMOND HORSE
by Stacey Gregg
(HarperCollins, $25)
Stacey Gregg marks a major milestone with the publication of this book; it's her 21st. While she started out writing horse-riding series Pony Club Secrets and Pony Club Rivals, Gregg has moved toward epic adventure stories based on real-life tales. As such, researching the stories takes her around the world, meaning the descriptions of people and places are always rich, realistic and very well-written. What's more, they feature strong female protagonists. The Diamond Horse is no exception; readers are transported to Russia where Anna Orlov, the daughter of a count, lives in a beautiful snowbound palace that's home to wild animals and, of course, horses. But Anna defies her father's wishes and finds herself fighting for survival on the Siberian tundra. A compelling story for horse lovers everywhere.
THE MIDNIGHT GANG
By David Wallliams with illustrations
by Tony Ross
(HarperCollins, $25)
When Tom gets hit on the head by a cricket ball, he finds himself at Lord Funt Hospital where he's greeted by a terrifying-looking porter. Things go from bad to worse when he meets the wicked matron in charge of the children's ward, but Tom is about to embark on a most thrilling journey, accompanied by four other youngsters trapped on the ward. David Walliams writes about some of the tough stuff kids face but does so in such an engaging and humorous way that it hardly seems beastly at all. There's a true knack to striking the right balance between heart-warming and heart-breaking, and Walliams has it. The Midnight Gang is probably his most nuanced story to date but there are the larger-than-life characters - many of them truly deplorable grown-ups - and humour that his fans appreciate.
